“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:35‬ ‭NIV

God loves us. This scripture is about His love to us, not our love for Him. This love is from Him. It is unequivocal, and unconditional, love. He is with us in hardship. He is with us in times of persecution. He is with us in times of famine. He is with us in illness. He is with us when we are naked and exposed. He is with us when we are in danger. It is through His grace that He holds us up, carries us, provides optionsand when necessary, a way of escape. He intercedes, and interjects. His love is matchless. It’s like none other. It is wonderful, inconceivable, and undeserved. It is His bond, His union with us, birthed through the death and resurrection of Christ.

Love is the very essence of who He is. He doesn’t just love-He is love (1 John 4:16). It motivates His every action, directs His activities, and reflects His desires (1 John 4:10). Love is the greatest and purest essence of who a person is and its proper expression brings fulfillment.

True love is liberating, not restrictive. God’s love motivates His compassion and mercy (love in action). His love brings transformation.

 Love requires relationship, as love is a dynamic force or presence that naturally seeks expression. Simply put, love loves! And in order to do that there must be an object of that love or it is incomplete.

God’s love is revealed in that He created us in His own image (a position of responsibility before God) and likeness (moral freedom; Genesis 1:26-27; Job 33:4).

Our relationship with God is an intimate one. There is a sacred knowledge and expression that takes place. The bond is so strong that God says a nursing mother may abandon her child, but He will never abandon us (Isaiah 49:15-16). He becomes the ultimate Father! 

He loved us first, enabling us to respond properly to His love (1 John 4:10-11). And His love (and ability) never fails.

Images from, Google Images

Some paragraphs are paraphrased or quoted from The Unconditional Love of God. http://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-studies/the-unconditional-love-of-god.html. February 2018