OCTOBER 16, 2024
Topic: “DIVINE LOVE”
Text: NEHEMIAH 9:9-17
Memory Verse: …But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…” – Neh. 9:17b.
The theme of God’s love runs through the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Because God is love, He consistently shows this love to humanity with no regards for generation or dispensation. It is a complete contradiction of the character of God not to love. Even when He chastises, or rebukes He does so as expressions of His inherent love for His people. His love is not a function of our behavior, He loves us and shows it even when we behave foolishly. His patience with us is amazing, for despite our repeated failings, pride, stubbornness and rebellion, He continues to pardon us as we see in the testimony of Nehemiah in our text for today.
It is interesting to note that though the Old Testament seems to be full of judgment after judgment, yet the show of His love cannot be over emphasized even on the pages of the Old Testament. The Prophets reveal to us how God has been with His people since creation. This verse (memory verse) of scripture shows us that the years that God bore with the sins of His people demonstrated His love for them – yes, He chose to be slow to anger to demonstrate His patient love.
Beloved, since God loves you, is patient with you, has forgiven you, and blotted out your transgressions, you ought also to show your love to him by obeying His word, and forgiving others who have hurt you along the path of life.
PRAYER: Lord, I appreciate your unspeakable love for me. Give me grace to live in it and show it, Amen.