6/14/25 God Is Love

Takeaway: Understanding God’s character as love, not condemnation.

Opening Prayer (Saturday)

Father, thank You for the gift of rest. As I slow down today, help me to find peace in You. Restore my soul, deepen my faith, and renew my joy in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

One of the most persistent and hurtful illusions we can carry is the illusion of an angry God. A view of God as distant, disappointed, and constantly on the verge of giving up on us. This illusion is often shaped by painful human experiences. This illusion stems from growing up with a harsh authority figure offering a performance based love relationship. Or, from attending a church that emphasized God’s wrath more than His mercy. The result is a God we approach with fear, not reverence; a God we relate to with guilt, not trust. We may say that “God is love,” but our hearts whisper something else. Yet Scripture tells us clearly, without ambiguity or exception: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Not “God is sometimes loving,” or “God acts in love when we deserve it,” but God is love. Love is the source of His engagement with us. To live with God and have a relationship with Him, God offers us consistently love.

To believe this fully is to shatter the illusion that God’s primary posture toward us is one of anger or disappointment. John writes that God showed His love for us not through control or punishment, but by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. And He did this not after we proved ourselves worthy of such love, but while we were still broken and sinners. This is not the reaction of an angry God, but the tender care of a loving Father. God does not love you because of what you do, He loves you because of who He is. And one only needs to look towards Jesus, to see that love visibly, tangibly, and undeniable.

So why do so many of us still carry the weight of condemnation? Why do we instinctively flinch when we think of standing before God? Often, it’s because we’ve internalized an illusion that subtly says: “God will love you more when you sin less.” But that’s not the gospel. The real gospel says: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s love is not a reaction to our goodness; it is the relentless pursuit of us even in our worst moments.

Letting go of the illusion of an angry Father requires trust. It requires courage to let God love us, not as we wish we were, but as we truly are. And it requires faith to believe that the God who knows us best also loves us most. If you find yourself still caught in fear or guilt, take heart: the invitation of 1 John 4 is not to perform, but to receive. Receive the love of God that casts out fear.

Questions

Have you ever felt like you needed to “clean yourself up” before coming to God? Where do you think that belief originated?

How does understanding God’s love as redemptive deepen your appreciation for the cross and for grace?

Application

As you begin to internalize God’s love for you, look for one opportunity this week to extend grace to someone else—not because they earned it, but because you’ve received it.

Closing Prayer

Loving Father, I confess that I have sometimes believed You are angry, distant, or disappointed in me. I’ve allowed shame and fear to shape my view of You. Today, I receive the truth that You are love. Thank You for loving me in my brokenness and pursuing me with grace. Help me trust Your heart and rest in Your presence. Teach me to live, serve, and love not out of fear, but from the security of being fully known and fully loved. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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