Love! Love!! Love!!! A gentleman can walk miles bypassing several provision stores just to buy ‘pure water’ from the one he loves. A lady tosses in bed thinking and dreaming about a certain gentleman. Oh! Is this what they call love? A brother overly protects and shows kindness to his little brother. A mother is a lioness when it comes to her cubs oops her children. Is this what they call love? Well, before you slip into dreamland, why don’t you read on? And as you read, don’t forget to sing this song to yourself ;
God’s love is so wonderful 3x
Oh wonderful love
It’s so high, you can’t get over it
It’s so deep, you can’t get under it
It’s so wide you can’t get around it
Oh, wonderful love!
The divine love of God transcends a mere “I love you.” “Odoyewu!” Indeed, true love demands sacrifice; Christ and His shameful death on the cross represent the highest form of sacrifice, surpassing that of any righteous person. Love manifests in myriad forms, encompassing various depths, highs, and lows. It presents itself in diverse expressions, yet one stands supreme among them: Agape—unconditional love. God, in His sovereignty, exemplifies this supreme love uniquely toward humanity. The psalmist marvels at this, stating in Psalms 8:4, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?…” He overlooks our sins, guilt, and shame, offering His all for us, even His life, to clothe us in His glory. This love is without equal and entirely unbiased.
The God-kind of Love is extraordinary, supernatural, authentic, and unparalleled. It cannot be fully explained with words, diagrams, or even feelings. Remember, this love is life-giving; it provides purpose and meaning to life. God’s love is so wonderful—so high we can’t get over it. This love is for all who come to Him with genuine repentance, and in His matchless mercy, He guides them along the best pathways for their lives, so they may walk in their calling.
Don’t get me wrong! Love doesn’t only point to the one God shows to us. It is essential to know that God’s love seeps into us and helps us to extend this same love to others.
Love is a complex emotion that can be described as a strong feeling of care and closeness for another person. It can be expressed in many ways, including acts of kindness, words of affirmation, and spending time together. According to the Wikipedia dictionary, Fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or be used for work. Just as machines need a source of fuel to function and fulfill their purpose or task, Christians also need love as fuel to fulfill our mandate on earth. Love is a very important virtue in our lives as Christians as the word admonished us in 1 Corinthians 13:13, we see that love is the greatest of all virtues. Love is not just an option; it is the foundation upon which a meaningful and purposeful life is built.
The Bible says that God is love, which makes the Word of God the perfect source to know what true love means and how we can love others as God loves us. Receiving God’s love is a transformative experience that revolutionizes our relationship with Him. It’s not something we can earn or deserve, but rather something we receive through faith, grace, and a deepening relationship with Him. As Christians the more we engage the word of God and have the mind of Christ in us, the more we are going to start portraying the love Christ portrayed. As we cultivate a relationship with God, we begin to experience the depth of His love. We learn to trust Him, rely on Him, and surrender to His will. We cannot agree less with Apostle John, 1 John 4:16, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them”. By receiving God’s love through faith, grace, and relationship, we can experience the fullness of His presence and love in our lives. Prayer is a vital component in experiencing God’s love. It’s a means of communication between us and God, allowing us to build a deeper relationship with Him. Just as consistent communication strengthens the bond between friends, regular prayer fosters intimacy with God. As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually,” emphasizing the importance of ongoing communication with God.
An artisan does not need an already perfect piece to create a masterpiece. He foresees his handiwork and works towards it till he finally gets it. The love of God is fierce, the love of God pursues; giving in to nothing (John 15:9-11), the love of God works tirelessly till it shapes the loved. The love of God does not bargain for space in the life of the loved even though the latter may not reciprocate it. We are bearers of God’s love and this love brings a rejuvenation! It goes into the darkest part of our lives and sheds its light, making all unauthorized occupants hiding in the dark to evacuate (that’s our sins). Light is restored and there is a transformation because the old habits are gone! The love of God is the believer’s shield and thankfully this shield can never be broken because nothing can ever separate us from His love. We draw strength from this love. Oh! How peaceful it is for the believer to lean and trust in it. This same love caused Him to gulp down the pain of giving out His own son as a ransom for us. It is just a matter of trusting in the power of this love that can cause the believer to be redeemed and fulfilled. Nothing satisfies but Him!
Without God’s love as our motivation, we risk experiencing burnout, frustration, and a distorted sense of our calling. In Revelation 2:4, Jesus warns the church in Ephesus, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” Serving without love can turn into mere religious activity rather than a heartfelt response to God’s grace. When love is absent, our spiritual journey becomes mechanical, shifting our focus from internal transformation to mere external results. This lack of love can lead us to engage in religious activities out of obligation rather than genuine devotion. As we lose sight of the heart of our faith, our actions may become routine and uninspired, leaving us spiritually stagnant. Instead of experiencing growth and intimacy with God, we risk becoming weary and disconnected, missing the true essence of our calling. When we lack the fuel of love, our perception of God can become distorted. Instead of viewing Him as a loving Father, we may see Him as a strict taskmaster. This change can negatively affect our relationship with Him, turning prayer and worship into burdens rather than opportunities for intimacy. Over time, this disconnection may lead to spiritual dryness, making it difficult to hear God’s voice and causing us to lose our sense of direction.
How then does this love shape our lives?
When our hearts are filled with God’s love, it profoundly impacts our perspective, attitude, and interactions. We begin to see the world through the lens of love, and our attitude towards others changes. Using 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as a guideline, we’re more likely to extend kindness, forgiveness, and understanding to those around us. We become more gracious, empathetic, and understanding. As Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” With a heart full of God’s love, we’re more likely to listen actively, speak gently, and act selflessly. Our relationships are enriched, and we become a reflection of God’s love for those around us.
Announcement! God is the ultimate source of love!
God’s love is the source and foundation of everything we do as Christians and without it our lives and calling will lose their true purpose. Let us know that God’s love is unconditional, free, and not earned as seen in Romans 5:8. Having a full heart enables us to better understand and fulfill our divine calling. God’s love fills our hearts, shapes our actions, and empowers us to live our calling. God’s love towards man is seen in 1 John 4:9, where He sent His only begotten son into the world so we may live through Him. Having a full heart allows us to receive and internalize God’s unconditional, ever-present, and transformative. The heart of man is a place of transformation and so when His love is allowed in our hearts, we get transformed, which in turn affects our calling. In the sense that, His love helps us to be more compassionate and be aligned with His will in our calling.
A full heart transforms a sense of obligation into a genuine desire to serve, and a heart filled with love overflows to impact others. When someone feels a sense of duty or obligation, their focus is on the task itself or on fulfilling a requirement but when the heart is full, it shifts their mindset. Instead of being compelled by an external desire a full heart stems from an internal desire to make a positive impact. The act of serving becomes an opportunity to contribute in a way that brings personal fulfillment. This transformation is rooted in the empathy and joy of helping where service becomes natural, meaningful, and deeply rewarding rather than a burden. Essentially, a full heart replaces obligation with authentic passion and purpose.
God’s love transforms how we engage with others, helps us listen with empathy, respond with kindness, and offer support without expecting anything in return. His love also helps us to interact with a full heart which helps us to interact with love and fullness making our relationships become more genuine. And this helps in creating an environment of trust respect and shared growth. A full heart does not just change what we do, it changes why we do it and this helps to transform every aspect of our lives from serving others to leading, creating, and forming meaningful connections. God’s love moves us beyond mere emotional warmth, guide our thoughts, actions, and desires in alignment with His will.
God’s love gives us a clear sense of who we are and what we are called to do. It reminds us that our daily actions matter and are part of a larger plan. We need to walk daily with God to allow us to experience His peace and guidance. When challenges arise, we have the assurance that His love will lead us through knowing we are never alone. God’s love calls us to trust in His wisdom and obey His guidance. His love provides the foundation for making decisions that honor Him and live a life that is worthy of our calling. Love turns every part of our walking into an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Him, trust His leading, and live His love out in every area we find ourselves.
Setbacks are not permanent and so we should have a sense of hope and faith that God has the ability to work in all situations. A heart full of love fuels our determination, which makes it easier to bounce back from setbacks. Setbacks often involve disappointments but love enables us to forgive both ourselves and others. Rather than holding onto resentment, love helps us to release all negative emotions making room for healing and concentrating on our calling. God’s love transforms and empowers us and also encourages us to cultivate a full heart which will affect our calling and bring about radical transformation irrespective of where we find ourselves.
If a mobile phone batter runs out, we connect it to a phone charger as soon as we can, but does not start working there and then. A phone charger is then connected to a power source and then voila, the phone lights up, receiving power and gaining the ability to perform the task for which it was created. Similarly, we as Christians have been created for so many purposes and one of them is to spread the love of God wherever we find ourselves. This is seen in John 15:10; “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you”. To love someone like Jesus loved us? To be willing to lay down our lives for another like our Lord did for us? This is an enormous task and relying on our human abilities to fulfil this might end in disaster. Just as a mobile phone has to remain close to the power source in order to be fully charged, we as Christians must always be found close to God so as not to disrupt our connection.
Love should be the driving force behind everything we do. As stated in 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Do everything in love.” Just as a compass lead and directs our path, we are being encouraged to let Love lead us in all our endeavors. Love has the best interest of others in mind and it is willing to sacrifice for another. Whenever we are provoked to anger our first thought as humans might be to retaliate and hurt the person, but with love in our hearts we would choose patience and kindness. As human as we are, sacrificing and giving up our own desires for another is not a natural tendency as we are naturally selfish. The only way to be able to love like this is to let the love of God fill our hearts. We must always let this love lead in our decisions and we must let this love be seen in our actions.
As we have explored, living out our calling is impossible without being fueled by God’s love. This love is not just an abstract idea but a transformative force that renews, strengthens, and sustains us. Without it, we risk burnout, frustration, and a misplaced sense of purpose. Jesus Himself invites us to rely on Him rather than carry the weight of our calling alone. When we remain connected to God’s love, we serve with joy, lead with compassion, and walk in confidence, knowing that our work is an overflow of His grace in our lives.
So, let us remember our first love—God’s perfect and unchanging love revealed on the cross. Today, you are invited to embrace this love afresh and commit to living out your calling, not from pressure or duty, but from a heart overflowing with the love of God. As Paul prayed for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:17-19, may His love be your fuel, strength, and guide in every step you take.
Written by Pastor Jonathan Ebo Quaye (Campus Minister, KNUST)
