Walking in the Sunshine of God’s Love

“Keep yourselves in the love of God” —Jude 21

God loves you, no matter what. It is unchanging. However, as our text says, “Keep yourselves in the love of God.”  Jude is not saying that it is possible to do something to cause God to stop loving you. Rather, it is as though a parent saying to their child, “Keep yourself in the sunshine.” The sun shines whether he enjoys it or not.  But if he walks in the shade he will lose the sun’s warm glow.

So God’s love for His people abides unchanging, but how few keep themselves in the warmth of it. The saint is to be “rooted and grounded in love” (Eph. 3:17)—“rooted” like a tree in rich and fertile soil—“grounded” like a house built upon a rock. Observe that both of these figures speak of hidden processes: The root-life of a tree is concealed from human eyes, and the foundations of a house are laid deep in the ground. Thus it should be with each child of God: the heart is to be fixed, nourished by the love of God.

It is one thing to intellectually believe “God is love” and that He loves you, but it is quite another to enjoy and live in that love. To be “rooted and grounded in love” means to have a settled conviction that God loves you.

Those blessed Scriptures that speak of the wonderful love of God, should be memorized and meditated upon regularly.  Dwell upon the many unmistakable proofs which God has made of His love to you: The gift of His Word, the gift of His Son, the gift of His Spirit. What greater, what clearer proofs do we require! Steadfastly resist every temptation to question His love: “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” Let that be the realm in which you live, the atmosphere you breathe, the warmth in which you thrive.