Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs Evil
Chapter 14: God Is Love
Before we are physically born into this world, while living in the womb, we depend on our mother for survival. After we are born, our physical dependence slowly transitions to an emotional dependence. As we age, we develop the desire to become more independent. If our physical and emotional dependence on our mother was positive and healthy, as we become more independent, our relationship with our mother should remain positive and healthy. It should be one of trust, which means being able to depend on our mother, no matter the circumstances. This trusting relationship with our mother is our first love experience. This is why the bond between a mother and a child is like no other. This love experience should be further enhanced by the love of our father and extend throughout the entire family. The family, another one of God’s provisions, is lovingly responsible to hold family members accountable for their actions. This does not mean family love should be conditional or judgmental. Judgment causes family members to turn their backs on other family members because of faults, failures, mistakes, or choices they don’t agree with. Families should love one another through faults, failures, mistakes, and the choices they don’t agree with. Judgment is hopeless; love is hopeful.
God’s provision of the family is but a glimpse into the depth of His love. Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT) says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Our love experience with God goes much deeper than the womb and way beyond the grave. Our love experience with God is spiritual, so it relies on the Holy Spirit. If we rely on the Spirit, our love experience with God will develop into a trusting relationship. Trust faithfully believes we can depend on God, no matter the circumstances. Our relationship with God is our first true love experience, because God’s love is faithfully unconditional. This means without fail, God loves us through our faults, failures, mistakes, and choices. Because God is love, His design of the family is an extension of His love. If the love of God is present in the family, the love we receive from our mother, father, and extended family, will shine the Light of God’s love. This gives us insight and understanding into God’s love. If the love of God is absent in the family, the family will struggle. Based on how many families struggle, how present is God’s love in the family today?
Author’s comments: Mother’s Day is to remind us to express our love and appreciation for our mothers. Although we are reminded of the birth of Christ at Christmas, and His death and resurrection at Easter, why isn’t there a God’s Day to remind us to express our love and appreciation for God? Because every day is God’s Day! Make God the most important part of every family relationship and He will truly bless those relationships.
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