The Faith I Live By

God Is Love, February 22

God's Character and Providences

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8. FLB 59.1

“God is love.” His nature, His law, is love. It ever has been; it ever will be.... FLB 59.2

Every manifestation of creative power is an expression of infinite love.^{104Patriarchs and Prophets, 33.} FLB 59.3

It is through His power that summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, day and night, follow each other in their regular succession. It is by His word that vegetation flourishes, that leaves appear, and the flowers bloom. Every good thing we have, each ray of sunshine and shower of rain, every morsel of food, every moment of life, is a gift of love.^{105Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 75.} FLB 59.4

The history of the great conflict between good and evil, from the time it first began in heaven to the final overthrow of rebellion and the total eradication of sin, is also a demonstration of God's unchanging love.^{106Patriarchs and Prophets, 33.} FLB 59.5

The gift of Christ reveals the Father's heart.^{107The Desire of Ages, 57.} FLB 59.6

God made to our world the wonderful gift of His only-begotten Son. In the light of this act, it could never be said by the inhabitants of other worlds that God could have done more than He did to show His love for the children of men. He made a sacrifice that defies all computation.^{108The Review and Herald, January 3, 1907.} FLB 59.7

Thousands have a false conception of God and His attributes. They are as verily serving a false god as were the servants of Baal. Are we worshiping the true God as He is revealed in His Word, in Christ, in nature, or are we adoring some philosophical idol enshrined in His place? God is a God of truth. Justice and mercy are the attributes of His throne. He is a God of love, of pity and tender compassion. Thus He is represented in His Son, our Saviour. He is a God of patience and long-suffering. If such is the being whom we adore and to whose character we are seeking to assimilate, we are worshiping the true God.^{109Testimonies for the Church 5:174.} FLB 59.8