The Flavor of God - Part 3

God's Attribute of Love

What are personal attributes? What is God's purpose in giving us individual talents and gifts? If we understand the answer to these two questions, we learn who we really are, how to achieve our life-purpose, and we discover more about who God is and about His attributes.

"In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly" (Romans 16:6-8 NLB).

Attributes are character traits that compose the essence of a woman; flavors of God that He shares with us. A woman's essence is the root, core, or the heart of who she is. Our essence is the elements or qualities of our nature that personify our soul, spirit, and our fundamental nature. 
 
Pondering: Who is God? What are His attributes? In order to understand and fulfill our life-purpose, does God give all of us divine gifts? If we do not know what our special talents are, can we ask God to reveal them? However, if we already know our special strengths, why does God wait so long in opening doors for us to share them?

Coaching: To understand the concept, gravity, and depth of God's love requires time, study, and prayer. His purpose for loving us is intrinsic and does not rely on our response, reassurance, or faithfulness to sustain His enduring love; He loves us anyway.

There are three main categories of God's love:

• Divine love (Hebrew ahaba; Greek agape love) is the Trinity's infinite love for each other. For us divine love manifests as Christian virtue (1 John 4:8, 16).
• Divine personal love, is directed to believers because we possess His perfect righteousness (as we talked about last week) at salvation (1 John 4:10; John 3:16; Isaiah 63:9; Jeremiah 31:3).
• Divine impersonal love is directed to unbelievers (John 3:12; Romans 5:8).

Love is the highest characteristic of God. All of God's attributes blend into His love. The (Greek word telos) indicates love without limits. Think for just a moment about the limitless love of Jesus. The highest complete proof of divine love is deliverance through salvation (Romans 5:8; 8:32-39; 1John 4:9-10). Jesus purposefully gave His precious life to achieve deliverance for us through a torturous death; what a gracious love Jesus has for His children.

In the Middle East, the purpose of washing dirty sandal-shod feet is because of walking dusty streets, and it is usually done by servants (John 12: 4-5). When Jesus humbly washes the disciples' feet in John 13, He does so out of love. It is also a symbolic act of showing His loved-ones the cleansing of the whole person by the inner makeover through faith in Jesus. Some scholars see the bath as salvation, and daily foot washing as a symbol of confession of our known and unknown sins.

The reality of His love becomes transparent under the influence of the Holy Spirit and only through our willingness to accept His gracious love is its power demonstrated.

"Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5 NASB).

It is easy to understand the Trinity in this way; God, who is exalted, loves us. Christ, who died for us, loves us. The Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, teaches us about divine love. That is a lot of love, so much so, that we really cannot comprehend the depth of God's love for us.

In summary:

• Gods' eternal love is without limits... God loves us.
• Jesus Christ died in the humility of love... Jesus is in us.
• The Holy Spirit indwells us to poor out love... the Holy Spirit teaches us.

 
Challenge: God has given each of us talents for doing certain things well. Does your life-purpose involve loving God and others with the depth of His love? God's purpose is to give you certain attributes and gifts in order to share Him with the world. Does your life-purpose produce kindness, mercy, and God's love without reservation? Is He transparent in you?

I challenge you to take time to study His Word, pray, and deepen your love for Him; He already loves you, you are worth loving... you are a royal child of God. Ask Him to reveal your attributes. It is your decision. Remember, God loves you no matter where life's dark silhouette has taken you, or what you have done; it's just one more flavor of God!

Love's purpose forgives.