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B. Motives for Seeking Revival

a. First motive: for God’s sake

4. Meditate on the love of God

It is my conviction, after decades of Christian experience that many Christians just don’t appreciate how loving God is. Yet his love is foundational to all we believe. It is the very essence of Christianity.

God is love

That is a most remarkable statement (1 John 4:8, 16). God isn’t just loving, his very nature is love. Love is the essence of his being. He is pure love. Hence God is Trinity – three persons bound together in love. This has been the case for all eternity, before there were any humans to love. Everything God does is loving. It must be remembered that the New Testament also says God is ‘spirit’ (Jn 5:24), ‘light’ (1 Jn 1:5) and ‘a consuming fire’ (Heb 12:29). John Stott comments “Far from condoning sin, His love has found a way to expose it (because He is light) and to consume it (because He is fire) without destroying the sinner, but rather saving him.” So when God judges he does so in love.

God’s love is awesome

His love fills this vast universe which is 92 billion light years across. He, the infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient Lord of the vast universe, who is utterly transcendent and holy, loves us comparatively microscopic creatures on a tiny ball of rock hurtling through space.Yet the heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain him (1 Kings 8:27). Nothing can separate us from his love. It is abounding, unfailing and eternal. It surpasses knowledge (Rom 8:38-39; Psa 86:5; 32:10; 100:5; Eph 3:17-19).

God’s love is caring

God is the infinite provider, enabler, protector, deliverer,comforter, encourager and motivator. “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:38-39). God will always provide, protect, enable and deliver us, whatever the future holds. We can be confident in all circumstances.

God’s love is saving

God is love and it follows that he longs – longs – to save people. We would all long to save a loved one in danger. He grieves that the majority of people are unbelieving, that they are on the broad road leading to destruction. He reaches out to them, inviting them to trust in him and love him. It follows from this that God longs – longs – to bring Revival, which will bring many to faith.

God’s love is welcoming

We all yearn for our loved ones to love us and this is true of God. He is love and love yearns for love. And that yearning is very deep because he is not just loving but is love. He yearns for our love. This is not implying that God has needs like humans but rather that, by its very nature, love invites and welcomes a loving response. How awesome it is to realise that God wants us to love him! And yet the first great commandment makes it clear: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt 22:37). This is another reason why God desires to bring revival – because it will bring many more people into a loving relationship with him.

A MEDITATION ON THE LOVE OF GOD

The Lord loves me perfectly so:

  • He wants me to enjoy a relationship with him
  • He loves being present with me (though he is sometimes grieved at my behaviour)
  • He feels deep affection for me.
  • He values me
  • He wants the very best for me
  • He wants to protect me completely from all harm and hindrance (including when I go through trials).
  • He wants to answer my prayers (but he knows it’s very important to build up my trust in him).
  • He wants to provide for me
  • He wants to give me gifts
  • He wants me to share in his joy.

A PRAYER ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD

Lord, you love me perfectly. You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and faithful. You keep your covenant of love with me because your love has inspired me to love you and seek to keep your commandments. Your love endures for ever. Your unfailing love surrounds me because I trust in you. You are abounding in love to me because I call to you. You love me because I love Jesus. Nothing can separate me from your love. Your love surpasses knowledge. You have lavished your love on me. You are love. As far as the east is from the west, so far have you removed my transgressions from me.You delight in me because I fear you.You make your home with me because I love Jesus. You want to be with me.

(Num 14:18; Deut 7:9;Psa 100:5; 32:10; 86:5; John 14:21; 8:38-39; Eph 3:17-19;1 John 3:1; 4:7-8;Psa 103:11-12; Psa 147:11; John 14:21, 23; John 17:24).

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