Malachi 1:2
Israel Doubts God’s Love
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.
“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’
“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob,
How do you know God loves you? Ask a dozen people that question, and you may get a dozen answers. In human relationships, we feel loved when another person speaks our primary love language. If words of affirmation is your love language, then you will feel loved when someone verbally affirms you. The same principle is true in our relationship with God.
The biblical record, human history, and everyday experience all demonstrate that God draws people to Himself by speaking their primary love language. That truth has immense implications not only for our personal well-being but also in our outreach efforts. The fact is, we are God's representatives. He uses us to express His love. If we want successful evangelism efforts, we need to follow God's example of speaking in meaningful ways to individuals.
Admittedly that requires some work on our part. We need to become adept at communicating in ways that are not natural to us. We need to become adept at communicating in ways that are not natural to us. Yet the benefits heavily outweigh the effort. Learning to speak a person's love language makes us more effective vehicles of God's love.
Take time to pray to thank God for drawing you near to Him through your primary love language. Ask him to help you to bring honor to Him by showing His love to others.
Discuss and reflect on:
What is your primary love Language? Take the test HERE.
Why is that language especially meaningful to you?
Name one example of how God communicates to you through your primary love language.
What does it mean to you that you are God's representative?
Consider these passages for further study on God's love:
Psalm 86:15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
I Peter 5:6-7 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
I John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.