The True Nature of God’s Love

Do you know that you cannot stop God from loving you? Here is how to find out how this is the true nature of God’s love towards us.

Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it (Jonah 3:10).

Jonah burned with anger, wanting God to judge Nineveh, not extend grace.  Humanly speaking, the people of Assyria were cruel and wicked.  These idol worshippers were especially wicked toward the Israelites.  All of Israel hated the Assyrians for their cruel, barbaric ways.  The armies of the Assyrians often skinned their captives alive, removed tongues, gouged out eyes, and mutilated the populations of entire cities by driving over people with chariots affixed with iron spikes.  They also burned children alive and committed other atrocities that were designed to terrorize their adversaries and make them submit.

This evil works of the Assyrians demands judgment and punishment as we all can see, but when they repented towards God, He relented from the disaster He has said He would bring upon them. This was what angered Jonah because he was expecting God to judge the people; “…. Ah LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (Jonah 4:2b).  This is the true nature of our God.  Jonah could not accept God’s heart for others because he was consumed with himself.

We were all once dead in trespasses and sins, and walked according to the course of this world, but God who is rich in mercy because of His great love for us, even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Eph. 2:1-4.

This is the true nature of God, He is love, full of grace and mercy, His compassion fails not.  Because of His love for us, He gave His only begotten Son as a ransom for our sins, He took our punishment so that we can be set free.  Love your neighbor as yourself!

His rich mercy, His great love and His grace combine to produce a free gift received through faith!

Consider this:

• Why do you still hold that hurt against your friend or relative?
• Do you love your neighbor as yourself?

Prayer:  Father, I worship You, for Your goodness and mercies endures forever.  Give me a forgiving heart to be able to extend Your love to others.  Amen!

Read:  Jonah 4:1-11