The Lavish Love of God

Read 1 John 3:1-10.

If you take time to contemplate the reality of God’s lavish love—a love so extravagant, so extreme, so unbelievable—if you allow it to sink into your mind, heart, intellect, emotions, and imagination, it’s enough to make anyone rejoice, to make anyone shout out. You’ll not care a whit what people think of you as you express your thankfulness to God. I believe John was shouting as he wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). The entire epistle of 1 John tells us: In the face of God’s lavish love, you should be stunned and remain stunned every day of your life.

If your parents made the mistake of showing you love only if you accomplished certain things or behaved a certain way, I want you to remember John’s command: “Look at the vast love of God!” Remember what Scripture has said, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). When you insist on making yourself worthy of God’s love, you’re perverting His grace. The very essence of grace is unworthiness. You cannot earn your salvation; you cannot earn God’s love for you. He bestows it freely.

When you allow yourself to be overwhelmed with His lavish love, you’ll be changed. And that’s really the rest of John’s passage in 3:1-10. John explains the difference between those who have received God’s favor and love and those who haven’t. If you comprehend John’s exclamation, “Look! See!” then you’re going to hate sin. You won’t habitually or carelessly or calculatingly or callously sin. You won’t live in doubt, disobedience, and fear, but you’ll love God’s Word. John tells us that when you relish and delight in the lavish love of God, you’ll spend the rest of your life purifying yourself for Him.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your incredible love poured out on me through Christ. I long to live for You, to walk in Your light and serve as a beacon for others to find their way to Your Kingdom. May Your Spirit empower me to grasp how high and wide and deep and long is Your love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.