DEVOTIONAL SERIES ON LOVE (part-36)

HOW DO WE MEASURE GOD’S LOVE?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens;
Your faithfulness to the skies.
(Psalm 36:5)

MEDITATION:
Measurements are important when building structures or making clothing
apparel. They are critical in the field of medicine, since the dosage amount
can affect the effectiveness of the medicines. In the field of sports, we use
measurements as a way of comparing contestants. However, there are some
things that cannot be measured definitively.

How do we measure the impact of a touch when a person is hurting? How
do we measure the effect of an encouraging word for someone who is feeling
down and discouraged? How do we measure the spirit of a person when they
are blessed by another person who goes out of their way to do something for
them? How do we measure the warmth of a hug for someone who feels alone
and rejected? How do we measure the result of a listening ear when someone
has a desperate need to talk to someone?

The Psalmist could not measure the love and faithfulness of the Lord,
but he knew it was enormous! Even though love cannot be measured,
it has been categorized into seven types:
    Agape
        (a universal, self-sacrificing type of love)
    Phileo
        (a friendship love that is kind and generous)
    Eros
        (a type of passionate, romantic love)
    Storge
        (a familial love – pertaining to the love between parents and children)
    Ludus
        (a playful love – sometimes referred to as puppy love)
    Pragma
        (a practical love – kind of a dutiful, long-term commitment type of love)
    Philautia
        (a self-love which can be healthy (high self-esteem), or unhealthy (egotism))

Of course, the love of our Lord is the “agape” type of love.
    It is a genuine and unselfish love for others.
    It is a love that remains steadfast,
    even when the object of that love disappoints.
    It is a love that has consideration and compassion for others.
    It is an unselfish love that considers others as important
    and has a desire to see them become the best they can be,
    both morally and spiritually.

Young people talk a lot about love and many songs have been written
about love. Love is a topic of many discussions. People often talk about
the absence of love, or the positive emotional impact it can have on the
lives of people.

Victor Hugo (a French Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, and
journalist) said long ago,
    “The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.” 
Sigmund Freud (a clinical psychologist) stated,
    “Love is the first requirement for good mental health.”

ACTION:
The Bible teaches us that “God IS love” and God loves you and
me. It is of paramount importance for us to realize that truth.
And, because of His love for us, God has a wonderful plan for
our lives. Who else could plan and guide your life as well as our
Creator who has enormous love for you and me?

How are you showing love to others? If you know someone is
hurting or depressed, do you think they need to “suck it up”
or get professional help, or do you think of ways you can lift
their spirit by showing love to them in the same way God shows
love to you and me?

When we read God’s Word, we can understand that He has given
us the capacity for showing love to others, so we have a choice, don’t
we? We can either embrace how God wants to use us in loving others,
or we can choose to ignore the opportunities for Him to love others
through us.

When is the last time you put the needs of someone else ahead of
your own needs? Our answer is a measure of our own selfishness,
isn’t it?
    Therefore if you have any encouragement from being
    united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any
    common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and
    compassion, then make my joy complete by being
    like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit
    and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition
    or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above
    yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each
    of you to the interests of others. In your relationships
    with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
    (Philippians 2:1-5)

    Do to others as you would have them do to you.
    (Luke 6:31)

    Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,
    pressed down, shaken together and running over,
    will be poured into your lap. For with the measure
    you use, it will be measured to you.”
    (Luke 6:38)

We can sometimes wonder about the spiritual gift God has given
us, but there is no doubt about His desire for us to show love to
to others as an example that we are followers of His Son, Jesus.
It is one way of serving God that we can all do, and are expected
to do. It’s not something that we can do if selfishness still exists
within us.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me with a sincere love
that cannot be measured. When I am down, I know that Your
love is always available, because Your faithfulness reaches to
the skies. Help me to remember that when I feel unloved by
others, I can be assured that I will always be loved by You.
Teach me to love others in the same manner that You love me.
Help me be obedient to Your instructions to consider others as
more important than myself. I pray that I will express my love
for You in a manner that can be seen by others and in some
way, point them to Your Son, Jesus. Teach me to look for
opportunities to show love to others through words, actions,
or even a touch. Give me thoughts and opportunities to make
special efforts to let others know they are loved, and especially
those who are hurting physically or emotionally.”

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