1 John 4:9 KJV
[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
What is love? There is at least one place where it is difficult to get the right definition or example, and that is in movies. Too many times, what God calls sin is what man refers to love. The world tries to define for us a concept that is foreign to it, because Love is actually God's nature and gift to us. The verses just before the one above lays it out quite clearly that God is love. It appears that the original version of love cannot be presented or understood outside of the person and personality of God Himself. He is the definition and expression of love, and all He does will also be extensions of His nature and person.
What the world offers is a poor attempt at trying to recreate the original. As long as you do not have the original, you cannot fake it. We have the perfect example of love to emulate. At a time when it was difficult for man to justify the greatest gift given, God gave man a chance to be reconciled to Him. At a time when there were no guarantees that man would choose Him, God still went ahead to make a way for man, whenever he chose, and as long as there was an opportunity, to return to God. God waits for man, with all his baggage of failures, to find his way back to Him. That is love: not waiting for perfect people, but able to make perfect all who come to Him.
This is what makes the gift of God so rare, sometimes unappreciated, and with eternal consequences too. If God was willing to offer His one and only Son to die for me, can you imagine what the hope would be if I reject this gift to the end of my earthly life? If such a high price was paid to secure the prize of salvation and eternal life for me, who else can plead my cause if I reject this gift? True Life is made available in and through the son, and all who surrender their lives to Jesus lay hold of the life on offer. God is not asking for money, food, sacrifices or anything else; just total submission to the Lordship of Jesus, and acceptance of the full and free life that has been secured by His death and resurrection. That is love; how do you respond? God's time of favour is here.
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