The Focus of 2018 - The Real, Nitty-Gritty, Bloody Sacrificial Love of God

by Barbara Latta

John 3:16 is plastered on billboards, posters, signs at ballgames and quoted in Sunday School. The verse has become a mantra of sorts and has been heard so many times we have become numb to the meaning. The world doesn’t know what it means, but sadly, much of the Christian world doesn’t know the depth of this scripture’s meaning.

For years, I read verses about God’s love and I knew He loved me, but the depth of that intimacy sometimes evaded me. I saw myself as one of the masses of the billions of people on earth, but I didn’t always feel the personal-ness of it.

Last week this blog was about a baby whose purpose in being born was to die. That's hard to absorb. If I knew the baby I had given birth to was going to grow up to die so mean, filthy, evil people could live, would I still want to give him to that world? I have to admit, not me.

We can only know the fullness of God by knowing His love.

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3: 17-20 NASB).

With the new year staring us in the face, it’s easy to look at last year and see all the things we didn’t accomplish or the failures we despair about. But the burning embers of the past  can be the kindling of future flames of success, or those coals can fuel the fires of regret. Which will it be?

I am a champion at beating myself up for past mistakes, missed opportunities and goals not met. But the only thing that can redirect that fire of regret is the love of God.

There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

So, this year love is the focus of my Bible study. The real nitty-gritty, blood-letting sacrificial love of God that so few, including me, really experience. To gain a deeper understanding of the love of the creative King of the universe and let that revelation change me to the point of impacting the world around me in a new way.

What focus are you pursuing this year? Feel free to share.

The real bloody sacrificial love of God (click to tweet)

We can only know the fullness of God by knowing His love(click to tweet)