An Everlasting Love

The book of Malachi begins with the burden of the word of the LORD that reads, "I have loved you," says the LORD.  Yet you say, 'In what way have you loved us?'"  Isn't this a heartbreaking response from God's people, ones He always loved?  It is written in Jeremiah 31:3:  "The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."  From the beginning God only showed love to His people, for God is love.  The Hebrews were God's people because He loved and chose them out of all the nations of the world, brought them out of Egypt, and brought them into the land of promise.  Yet a day came when they did not acknowledge God loved them at all.  Their response to God's claim of loving them was, "Yeah?  Prove it!"

Malachi's style of prophecy was dialectical or disputational, and God's objective statements were followed by questions and contradictions by His people.  God through the prophet provided evidence for His initial claim, and those who feared God would be moved to repentance for sin and heed God's command.  God is good not just to tell us where we have done wrong, but He explains the right action we ought to take instead.  While God showed His love of His people by the covenant of Law and countless blessings, all people today--both Jew and Gentile--have a fuller, more complete picture of God's love through Jesus.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son Jesus, and by the power of the Gospel He gives the right to become children of God by believing on His name.

A well-known poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning begins, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."  This is a good exercise for Christians to embrace, that we would consider all the ways God has practically shown His love for us.  When we acknowledge God's continuous love toward us by revealing Himself to us, providing for all our needs, drawing us to Himself with lovingkindness, providing atonement for our sin and remaining faithful to us despite our faults, it evokes praise and thanksgiving to God.  1 John 3:1 reads, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."  It is because God loves us that He redeemed and reconciled us to Himself as children, and if this was the only thing He did for us it would be enough cause for us to praise and glorify Him forever.

God has done more than love us in a particular way because He is love.  Everything about Him is loving, and His undying, active love always acts for our ultimate good.  Since He is able to make all things work together for good to those who love God, we can rest assured in His sovereignty and be secure in His love.  We will never be able to count all the ways God has loved us, but the cross speaks of love that is sacrificial, constant and eternal.  In coming to Jesus Christ for salvation we discover God has loved us with an everlasting love, and therefore with lovingkindness He has drawn us to Himself through Jesus.  If we ever assume the posture of "How has God loved me lately?" it may be we have yet to understand God is love, and He is ours through faith in Christ.