1. God Loves The World
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior made the greatest sacrifice in history when He was crucified on the cross for the redemption of our sins. He laid down His life, so we could have the opportunity at eternal life, if we so choose.
John 15:13 tells us, “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus displayed the greatest act of love possible toward us through His ultimate sacrifice.
2. God Loves Sinners
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
“God is love,” He defines the very word, (1 John 4:8). This is why our Heavenly Father is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” (2 Peter 3:9). He has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” and He has “set before you life and death, therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live,” (Ezekiel 33:11, Deuteronomy 30:19).
Our Father sent His only begotten Son into the world, for the entire world, but especially the sinner. Jesus tells us, “they that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance,” (Mark 2:17).
3. God Loves Those Who Believe In Jesus Christ
John 16:27
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.
Jesus Christ is the way, the only way to eternal salvation, (John 14:6). Our Heavenly Father loves those who not only believe in His Son, but love Him.
Think about the depth of that for a moment.
It is not just belief, but love. When you love someone, that means you go out of your way to please them and make them happy. Naturally, our children do this, they follow the rules of the household out of love and respect for their parents, (when they are taught discipline). We should apply that same logic to the Father and Son.
4. God Loves Those Who Love Him
Proverbs 8:17
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
When we love our Heavenly Father it means we live by His Laws. “Love” is not just a four letter word.
When we love God it means we seek Him out as Jesus told us in Matthew 7:7-8. It means we do our best to lead a life that is pleasing to Him, and we should understand God is “a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,” (Hebrews 11:6). “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28).
5. God Loves Those Who Keep His Commandments
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.
The 12 tribes of Israel were always blessed when they followed the commandments and laws of our Heavenly Father, they only lost God’s protection when they fell away from Him and His Word.
One of my favorite examples of God’s love concerns those who keep His commandments. Namely, Abraham. Due to his unbending faith, trust, and love for God, Abraham was blessed with an everlasting covenant that was placed on him and his descendants, (Genesis 17:21, 22:1-13).
6. God Loves Those He Corrects
Proverbs 3:12
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Correcting is disciplinary action, remember that.
We discipline those we love and our Father applies this same logic to us. God disciplines us when we veer from Him on our walk through life, when we know better. Never confuse discipline with a burden, God does not place burdens on His children, (Jeremiah 23:33-40).
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A great example that always comes to mind is the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for forty years, (Numbers 32:13). Our Father loved them, but when they were disobedient, He provided discipline. Otherwise, they would have veered so far away from Him, they would have never returned on their own.
7. God Loves Justice
Psalms 37:28
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
Our Father loves judgment, it restores order and corrects the sinner. The sentiments of this verse are found in many other places. In the great Book of Daniel, we are told our Father will issue Judgement and His Kingdom will be given to Jesus and the Saints, (Daniel 7:9-11; 13-14; 18).
Let’s make it, 10 things God loves!
8. God Loves The Righteous
Psalms 11:7
Also: Proverbs 15:9, Psalms 33:5, 146:8
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
Our Father loves “righteousness” and the righteous.
The righteous are those who live by our Father’s Word to the best of their ability, and when they fall short, they cease from their sin and ask God for forgiveness.
9. God Loves A Cheerful Giver
2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
If you think that means God loves the person who can put the most into the treasury box you are badly mistaken. God loves those who give honestly and from their heart.
We have no greater example than the poor widow who placed “two mites,” into the treasury, an amount not even equal to a single penny. Yet, it was everything she had and Jesus counted it as good, (Mark 12:41-44).
10. God Loves Those Who Trust Him
Psalms 17:7
Also: Psalms 36:7
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
This has always been the case.
Do not read over the word “lovingkindness.” When God loves you this deeply, it means He is always looking out for you. We can learn a great example from Daniel who was in bondage with the rest of the 12 tribes of Israel. Though Daniel was in bondage, God always kept him in favor of king Nebuchadnezzar.
Why?
Daniel always stood by God.
Due to that, God made Daniel second in command under the rule of the Babylonian king, (Daniel 1:9, 2:46-48).