Sunday: The Everlasting Love of God
Daily Lesson for Sunday 5th of January 2025
Scripture is clear: God loves everyone. The most famous verse of Scripture, John 3:16, proclaims this truth: “ ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ ” (NKJV).
Read Psalms 33:5 and Psalms 145:9. What do these verses teach about how far God’s loving-kindness, compassion, and mercy extend?
Image © Phil McKay at Goodsalt.com
Some might think that they are unlovable or that God might love everyone else but not them. Yet, the Bible consistently proclaims that every single person is loved by God. There is no one whom He does not love. And because God loves everyone, He also wants everyone to be saved, as well.
Read 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4, and Ezekiel 33:11. What do these texts teach about God’s desire to save everyone?
The verse after John 3:16 adds: “ ‘For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved’ ” (John 3:17, NKJV). If it were up to God alone, every human being would accept His love and be saved. Yet, the Lord will not force His love on anyone. People are free to accept or reject it.
And even though some do reject it, God never stops loving them. In Jeremiah 31:3, He proclaims to His people: “ ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you’ ” (NKJV). Elsewhere, the Bible repeatedly teaches that God’s love endures forever (see, for example, Psalms 136:1-26). God’s love never runs out. It is everlasting. This is hard for us to understand because we often find it easy not to love others, don’t we?
However, if we as individuals could learn to experience the reality of that love—that is, to know for ourselves God’s love—how differently we might live and treat others.
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If God loves everyone, this means He must love some pretty despicable characters because there are some (a lot, in fact) despicable characters out there. What should God’s love for these people teach us about how we should seek to relate to them, as well? |
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Physicists argue there are several very important numbers help us describe much of what we see and experience. One of these numbers is the Plank Constant: 6.62607015×10^−34. This number was originally used to describe the spectrum of black-body radiation (that is something important in Physics) by Plank around 1900, but it has woven itself into the fabric of physics to the extent that it helps us describe the relationship between the wave and particle nature of matter. At a more mundane level, the current definition of our unit of mass, the kilogram depends on the value of the Plank Constant.
Some Physicists have speculated that if the Plank constant was different, existence itself would be very different, and may not even be possible.
Perhaps the Plank Constant is the closest we come to something constant, universal, and everlasting in the physical world. Most of us do not know it exists, even fewer of us can quote its value from memory, and not many of us could have a detailed discussion about its significance for our existence. Yet, we live in a universe where is holds a significant place in our understanding.
Does that help our understanding of the universality and everlasting love of God?
There is an extension I would like to think about as well. It is quite possible that physicists will come up with a better idea about the nature of universal constants and we will see Plank's constant as just a stepping stone to that better understanding. Likewise, our understanding of God's love is described using expressions that we understand from our limited experience. Some day we may go beyond those limited expressions to an even greater understanding. Constants may be constant, but our understanding should not remain constant!
Think High!
I love ❤️ Jesus name Jesus ❤️ 😍 amen 🌄 🙏 AMEN 🌄 🙏
Martha Jane, its great that you love Jesus name, but you may like to expand that by explaining what is means to love his name. And, secondly, how we show that love in our relationship to others.
I love my wife's name, Carmel. It is the only name I have ever used when referring to her, But, my love for her has to go beyond the notion that she has a nice name that I like. I should show her that I love her more than just I am attracted to her. More than "eros", more than "philos", more than "storge", more than "xenia", and more than "philautia". (i will leave the reader to find the definitions for those - this is a learning experience after all)
That is how much Jesus loves us and we are asked to love one another in response.
I study these wonderful lesson each week and enjoy them very much.
Thank you to each one of you for sending them to us.
I noticed the texts 2Peter 3:9 and 1Tim 2:4 emphasize on the desire for God that all men know the TRUTH. It got me thinking what exactly is this truth that God wants people to know in order for them to be saved.
Helen, may I offer a brief response to your question?
The TRUTH is this: There is only one God, the great "I AM," the Creator of all, and Jesus Christ is His Son, sent to show us the Father's Love for His children.
Jesus Christ demonstrated how we should live — selflessly and humbly — not being selfish or self-righteous. He taught us to pray to the Father, trusting Him to ultimately make things right for us. We need not be anxious because He has promised eternal life to all who love Him.
When we accept this Truth as the foundation of our life, the Holy Spirit will help us to understand and live by it. Through His guidance, we learn everything we need to walk in His Way of Truth and Light.
Agape — the perfect Love God has for all humanity — is revealed throughout the Old and New Testaments and is personally experienced by all who love Him and His Son with their whole heart. Agape is the essence of Who He IS.
Simply.... John 17:17 Sanctify us in the "truth", thy Word is "truth"
It is easy and perhaps natural to see, feel, and touch the love of God when all seems to be going well. However, to some people the love of God is a far off and nonexistent abstract concept. In this world there are many people who have all experienced nothing but pain, sorrow and tears. In a true sense are there such people? If indeed there are, does the love of God make any meaningful sense to them? How universal is the love of God to these people? How possibly can those who have experienced the wonderous love of God reach out to such people who feel alienated by God?
Human pain, sorrow and tears are real human emotions that countless people go through (Psalms 10:1). These struggles make many to feel God’s love to be far distant, abstract and void. In the midst of immense suffering and trials, God’s love seems unkind and uncaring. Job felt the same (Job 13:24, Job 23:3, Job 19:8). At some point, David felt abandoned and forsaken by God’s caring love (Psalm 22:1). The weeping prophet, Jeremiah, complained to God bitterly. He could not reconcile God’s promises of love (Jeremiah 15:18). Another prophet, Elijah felt overwhelmed and alienated from the caring arms of God. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors" (1 Kings 19:4).
At times when people are going through real hard stuff, it sounds rather “unkind” to casually throw remarks of the love of God. The love of God is not easily visible and tangible to everyone. It requires love, kindness, empathy and care to understand the real hard stuff people go through. It demands faith to see, feel, and touch the love of God. Even as we out to the tell the world about God and His everlasting love, we need love and wisdom (Holy Spirit) to do so with a soothing tone. This is so because to some folks the love of God is “offensive”. How a loving God allowed Satan to come down to this planet (Revelation 12:12). Some people find it hard to reconcile the concept of God’s love. How possibly, can we who have experienced the love of God reach out to those who feel alienated by a loving God?
1. We should be the reflectors of God’s love – The love of should freely reflect from us to the suffering world. We are the torch bearers of God’s eternal love (Matthew 5:15, John 13:35).
2. Communicate the love of with grace – Unfortunately, at times we use the love of God to condemn others. For instance, too often the Pharisees condemned those who were outside God’s covenant. They proudly called themselves the Children of the promise and hence alienating anybody else from the universal love of God. How should the “Remnant Church” behave (John 3:17)?
3. Empathize with those who find it hard to connect with love of God – The burdens of this life are truly wearisome. A sympathizing and listening ear can help to minimize the sense of alienation (Matthew 11:28).
4. Engaging in services of love – God’s love should not be held dormant or inactive. There is something each one of us can do to demonstrate the love of God in action (Matthew 25:40).
The Lesson today says, "God’s love never runs out. It is everlasting"
My question is, if GOD love never runs out why there is eternal death?! Is burning people in hell... kind of love?!
Help plz?! What is everlasting love?! Am sorry Maurice math/physics is hard for me
Hi Lynn, fact is God's love is so unconditional and everlasting that even if someone chooses hell instead of being with God, He will still love them. Unconditional love does not mean unconditional salvation, as God does not force anyone to live in an unselfish environment where their selfish natures would be miserable. God's love is so unconditional that even if they choose death instead of life God will still love them and honor their choices.
That was my point Lyn. In the sense of physics you do not need to understand the physics in order to exist. You exist because it is there. Spiritually we exist because of Gods love. Those who perish have chosen to step outside of his love. God respects our choice.
Lynn, you asked: “If God's love never runs out, why is there eternal death?” and “What is everlasting love?”
To explore these profound questions, I encourage you to first reflect: “Do I truly, wholeheartedly believe that God loves me unconditionally and forever?” If your answer is yes, consider asking our Heavenly Father to reveal the answers to you in His perfect timing.
In my experience, unanswered questions are best left open until faith and understanding grow. Over time, as your faith deepens, the answers often become clear and relevant to your journey. It can be challenging — if not impossible — to fully comprehend or trust God’s Truth and Love when doubt still lingers.
My advice is to anchor yourself in the foundational Truth found in Scripture: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16. Accepting this Truth by Faith is sufficient until God, in His wisdom, reveals further understanding to reconcile any lingering questions.
I love 1 Corinthians 13. “ “And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 AMP
God’s Love cannot be confined to the fact that He also loves ‘despicable’ characters. His Love is fundamental to life itself. As long as there is Life, His Love is present, for without His Love, there would be no life — neither for the righteous nor the unrighteous, nor for all that is. It is through His everlasting Agape, the all-permeating essence of Who He IS, that life exists and draws us to Him - the Giver of all Life.
This perspective may explain why some Christians view themselves as special among the rest of humanity. However, we are not inherently special; we are simply saved by the Grace of God. It is His Love that allowed us to hear His voice and respond in faith. Nothing within ourselves — apart from the presence of His Love — enabled us to believe that He loves us.
If we consider that something other than His Love prompted us to believe in Him, we should examine what that ‘other influence’ might be. What could cause a person to turn from their ‘wicked way’? It can only be God’s Agape — His Love reaching the door of our heart, knocking, and inviting us to open it to Him. His Love drew us close enough to hear His knock, and His Grace enabling us to open the door of our heart and respond to Him - John 3:17.
I do believe the closest that comes to everlasting love, eternal, or constant love is found in God’s promises. God promised us He would call us sons and daughters of Him. There are two parts just like His love and faith for that matter. 1. His promises are forever just like His love. 2. His love and promises are not on condition, however we just cannot reap the reward if we don’t choose Him, with thought, word, and action. Still with me?
Do we have a choice, absolutely. Now some may be confused about choice. Let me present a question, from one of my good friends in college. Now I wish not to confuse any one. The Bible is clear that God is love and His love is everlasting and His promises are also. Ok the question: God gives us a glass of milk. Satan gives us a glass of strychnine both are the same color. Do I still have a choice?
Our promises: 2 Corinthians 6:18, Ezekiel 36:28-29, we like verse 26 also. There are many more we hold onto. Praise God for His consistent Love, don’t forget the second part of Hebrews 7:25, it is connected.
Finding despicable characteristics in others is easier; the difficulty is seeing what's despicable in myself. I hope to allow the Love of God for me to work on my despicable defects; afterward, I may be able to look at my neighbor with the eyes of Love, too.