The Measure of God's Love

The kindness of God is possibly my favourite attribute of God. Some English words used to translate chesed in the Old Testament and chrestos or chrestotes in the New Testament are kindness, mercy, lovingkindness, goodness, steadfast love, unfailing love, gracious or favour. They are beautiful words which can describe God's affection in action.

God's kindness is the reason we have access to salvation. Jesus, our Saviour, embodies "the goodness and kindness of God". God shows His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. When we look at Jesus we look at the kindness, mercy, lovingkindness, goodness, steadfast love, unfailing love and favour of God.

Sometimes we may find it difficult to recognise or receive love. This can be because of how we have been treated by those who said or were supposed to love us, or the portrayal of love as temporary and conditional in our cultures or media. It may be because our love for others is lived out imperfectly causing us to expect the same from all sources of love including God. Perhaps we hear the word love so often it has begun to lose significance. We love our family members and also love our favourite snacks. The word love may be used more often to describe a feeling that satisfies us rather than a motivation to sacrifice for the sake of others.

The image of kindness, however, has not been so corrupted. We can more easily recognise whether something is kind or unkind. Kindness is the measure of God's love. God's love motivated Him to give us kindness in the form of His Son. Whether or not you struggle with the concept of God's love, take some time this week to meditate on the kindness of God. I pray you experience a touch of God's kindness as you do so.

Bask in the full measure of God's love as you Write the Scriptures below:

Titus 3:4-5

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 2:7

So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Luke 6:35

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Jonah 4:2

And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Romans 2:4

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Psalm 119:41

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;

Joel 2:13

"And rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

All verses are taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) or the English Standard Version Amplified (ESVUK).

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