As we all know, love is a strong emotional feeling.
Although it is often recognised as one person coming to complete unity with another person or within one’s family, love actually is for everyone.
Love is there for us to receive from people around us and to give to anyone.
Illustrations of God’s Love
Since Waiheke Island Baptist Church loves me because of me sharing testimonies each time I went there, I became a church member of Waiheke Island Baptist Church as a ministry of Windsor Park Baptist Church.
Due to their love towards me and my joy in spreading the gospel of Christ, I don’t really mind spending money to get to Waiheke Island. It is several dollars cheaper than ordinary fares to get to Waiheke Island as I have a mobility hop card.
As I became an official member and one of Waiheke Island Baptist leaders, I have wanted to commit to this church.
Before I became one of the church members, we had a prayer tour around Waiheke Island. Therefore, campus pastor, Roi Nu Maran, offered me a spare room in her house for me to stay over.
On Sunday, another church member offered me a guest room in her house to stay over whenever I want to visit Waiheke Island for several days for celebration times and church events like Pro Youth and Young Adults hangout times.
Nevertheless, when she is not able to offer me the room because of some important stuff she has to take care of, Roi Nu may be able to provide me with a spare room in her house. Therefore, I have two amazing flatmates.
I believe these were God’s timing because love towards me from the church actually comes from God (1 John chapter 4, verse 19).
Thinking back to my testimony of how I became a true follower of Jesus, God’s love was the focal point.
Due to human’s ignorance of God, all of us naturally have been sinning against God until we came to faith in Christ. Other than this, I rebelled against God by pretending to worship Him, and this was just because I wanted to hang out with my friends.
Nonetheless, God still showed His love upon me as I encountered Him through the Holy Spirit. I felt God was saying that I should know Jesus better.
God’s Love in the COVID World
Some people are likely to question, “Where is God in the COVID-19 epidemic? Does God even care about us?”
Yes, He does and loves us deeply.
However, God has a bigger picture in mind. He desires for to have an intimate relationship with Him.
Is God selfish, then?
No, He is not at all. When humans were enemies of God, He came into the world as Jesus Christ and died for us. When He was crucified on the cross, He tore the temple's curtain in two so that we can access God and have a relationship with Him.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans chapter 5, verses 6-8)
If God is selfish, why did He come down to the earth and crucify Himself on the cross to save us spiritually? He could have just ignored us and find better people to have a relationship with them.
Instead, He is so patient with us and is waiting for us to come and surrender everything to Him. (2 Peter chapter 3, verses 8-9).
Although God cares about us, He never promised that life would be easy and we will be out of trouble, even if we believe in Christ. Nevertheless, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John chapter 16, verse 33)
Therefore, let us surrender everything and come to Him with an open mind and heart. As God is patient with us, we need to develop the same kind of patience with COVID-19. We can do this in our humble prayers before the Lord.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans chapter 12, verse 12)