The God Embrace 3: Demonstrative

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ESV

In human relationships, when we assess someone’s love, we don’t just take their word for it. It is not enough. We consider a wide variety of factors. How have they treated us? How have they hurt us? What have they promised? What guarantees do we have? There is risk in relationships, and if we don’t feel safe from getting our hearts hurt, it is hard to trust, love, and be vulnerable. That makes it hard to have intimate relationships.

The same is true with God. I know intellectually and doctrinally that God loves me, and I know He wants me to love Him, but I also feel hurt by him at times. Wounded. When we had three miscarriages it was hard to trust His love. When we lost a little girl in delivery, it was hard to trust His love. When we were in financial despair, it was hard to trust His love. I could go on, but you understand. A lifetime of various hurts and disappointments could easily make me feel, deep in my soul, that God doesn’t love me. Sometimes the words “I love you” from God are not enough.

This verse has helped me immensely. The demonstration of His love isn’t that he has kept me free from pain or that he promises to do so in the future. Rather, He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus to the cross for my sins. He loved me enough to sacrifice His precious son. He said, I love you this much, and He sent Jesus to the cross. For me! And that is enough.