“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Jesus quoted in Matthew 22:37-39
God’s Love is the Core
The Ultimate Human Experience can be realized by, and only by, embracing the transformative benefits of God’s love. God loves you with all his heart and soul and mind, and Jesus urges you to love God in return with all your heart and soul and mind.
Love is the core of God. Love is the core of the gospel. Love is the core of life – if you accept it and live it every day.
Through a powerful, transformative relationship of giving and receiving divine love with the creator of the universe and the designer of human life, you can enjoy incredible, amazing benefits unlike any other. So powerful are the benefits of this love relationship, it’s a wonder that every human on earth does not fall down on their knees and pray, “Yes Lord, I am ready and excited for the ultimate human experience through a love relationship with you.”
Being transformed by God’s love can have profound and far-reaching benefits in many aspects of your life. Indeed, this unique transformation, possible only with the powerful and unlimited love of God, produces more valuable positive results than any other experience you could ever have.
And yet, sadly, many people in today’s hectic, troubled, secular world miss this glorious opportunity. More and more people are abandoning church membership and iden-tifying as “Nones” – no religious affiliation. Many people today are also distracted with what Paul called “the behavior and customs of this world” – things like money, fame, sexual relationships, shiny possessions, power over others, drugs, alcohol, and obsession with personal appearance.
Now it is important to note that the person who seeks this Ultimate Human Experience should be primarily focused on God, their savior and the source of their strength, and not all the “goodies” they might get in return. A right relationship with God is not about “gimme this” and “gimme that,” although a lot of people ask God for anything from winning the lottery to finding a good parking space. Today it is trendy to seek all these good things from “the Universe” or “manifestation” and not talk about God openly, lest we offend others or incur criticism. A right relationship with God puts God first, above all others, as your God and your Lord.
Not Easy to Do
And that is not easy to do. Humans are naturally self-centered – call it sinful if you like that term better. God can “prepare a table” before you offering all the glories of salvation, and you can look at it or ponder it and think, “Isn’t this wonderful!” and yet do nothing in response. Not surrender. Not truly accept God as your Lord and Savior. Just feel special, like the birthday boy or girl.
There are a few genuine saints in this world who have lived in the past and who are alive today, but the vast majority of real human beings I have known, including myself, cannot make the leap into total spirituality and God-centeredness for long. The powerful pull of the sensory world – the flesh, the self-centered ego, money, things, mass media, social media, the opinions of others, winning, deadlines, pressure, sex, addictions – is just overwhelming for most of us. We play a game as if we were clothed in righteousness and spirituality, but underneath we are naked, sinful creatures.
This is all the more reason that we say to God, in the words of the old hymn, “I need thee every hour.”
Practicing the Presence of God’s Love
In the 1600s a devoted monk named Brother Lawrence became known for his capacity to be close to God at all times. He sometimes was so joyfully filled with the Holy Spirit that he was concerned he would burst from within. A book was written partly by a friend and partly by him entitled, The Practice of the Presence of God. This is a challenge for our time as well. How can you be aware of the presence of God, connected to him at all times? Without this sense of connection, you can easily fall off the wagon. It is not enough, not nearly enough, to be “saved” through a ritual of baptism or to publicly de-clare your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your savior. Words are cheap. They are not magic.
Now realistically, if giving your life to God resulted in nothing but misery, despair, starvation, pain, suffering, losses and defeats, it’s safe to say that not many people would seek such a God. Fortunately that is not how God works, not how reality is constructed. Because the three most important, powerful words in all existence are these:
God loves you.
Because God loves you with an everlasting love – “love divine, all loves excelling” – there are indeed many blessings which God bestows upon you when you give your life to the Lord. These blessings are not like gifts wrapped with bows under the Christmas tree or handed to you without consequence. Rather they emerge through an on-going relationship with God. They are outcomes of a process, which we will talk about later in another post. For now, let’s begin with an introductory look at 11 of the most important benefits of having a transformative love-relationship with God, each backed by scripture:
Many Benefits of God’s Transforming Love
1. Inner Peace and Contentment: Experiencing God’s love can bring a deep sense of peace, contentment, and inner fulfillment. It provides a source of lasting joy that transcends external circumstances. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27
2. Spiritual Growth and Maturity: God’s love helps us grow spiritually, nurturing virtues such as compassion, forgiveness, patience, and humility. It enables us to align our lives with divine principles and values, leading to personal growth and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18
3. Healing and Restoration: God’s love has the power to heal emotional wounds, mend brokenness, and bring about inner transformation. It can bring hope and comfort in times of pain, grief, or adversity, allowing us to find strength and resilience in difficult circumstances. “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3
4. Enhanced Relationships: Experiencing and embodying God’s love equips us to love and relate to others more authentically, compassionately, and selflessly. It deepens our capacity for empathy, forgiveness, and understanding, fostering healthier and more fulfilling relationships with family, friends, and the broader community. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love co-vers over a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8
5. Purpose and Meaning: Being transformed by God’s love helps us discover our unique purpose and calling in life. It aligns us with God’s plan and gives us a sense of meaning, allowing us to live with intention, passion, and a desire to make a positive difference in the world. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
6. Relief from Fear and Anxiety: God’s love can alleviate fear, anxiety, and insecurity. It instills trust in divine providence, knowing that we are unconditionally loved and cared for. This freedom from fear allows us to live with greater confidence, peace, and courage. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
7. Inner Strength and Resilience: Experiencing God’s love infuses us with inner strength and resilience to face life’s challenges. It provides a deep source of strength that sustains us during difficult times, allowing us to persevere and overcome obstacles. With God’s love as our foundation, we develop a sense of unwavering strength that empowers us to navigate through adversity with courage and grace. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13
8. Liberation from Guilt and Shame: God’s love offers liberation from the burdens of guilt and shame. It reminds us that we are forgiven and loved unconditionally, regardless of our past mistakes or shortcomings. Experiencing God’s love allows us to release the weight of guilt and shame, freeing us to embrace a life of redemption, self-acceptance, and healing. It empowers us to let go of self-condemnation and live in the freedom and joy of God’s love. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
9. Transformation of Character: God’s love shapes our character, helping us embody qualities such as kindness, gentleness, patience, and self-control. It enables us to let go of negative traits and embrace a life that reflects the divine attributes, making us more compassionate, loving, and virtuous individuals. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
10. Guidance and Direction: Being transformed by God’s love opens us up to divine guidance and wisdom. It deepens our spiritual intuition and discernment, allowing us to make wise choices and follow the path that we believe aligns with God’s will for our lives. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
11. Eternal Hope: Experiencing God’s love instills in us a sense of hope and assurance in the eternal. It reminds us of our connection to something greater than ourselves and offers the promise of eternal life, bringing comfort and peace in the face of mortality. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” – Romans 15:13
Read more about God’s love in this inspiring new book, “The Benefits of God’s Love,” available on amazon.com at this link.
Top photo by Jeff Jacobs, Pixabay.com
