WEBVTT 00:00:11.470 --> 00:00:16.289 After food and water, the greatest need in every 00:00:16.289 --> 00:00:20.850 human heart is to be deeply loved, valued, and 00:00:20.850 --> 00:00:24.309 accepted just for who we are. Here's the question. 00:00:24.469 --> 00:00:27.170 How do you get that kind of love? That's what 00:00:27.170 --> 00:00:33.570 we'll explore today. Welcome to this weekend 00:00:33.570 --> 00:00:36.329 edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 00:00:36.789 --> 00:00:39.270 The mission of this daily program is to intentionally 00:00:39.270 --> 00:00:41.850 disciple Christians through the insightful Bible 00:00:41.850 --> 00:00:44.670 teaching of Chip Ingram. In this past week, we 00:00:44.670 --> 00:00:47.609 wrapped up his popular series on seven fundamental 00:00:47.609 --> 00:00:51.350 characteristics of God called The Real God. So 00:00:51.350 --> 00:00:54.149 today, we're revisiting Chip's message on God's 00:00:54.149 --> 00:00:57.170 love, an attribute we tend to focus on a lot. 00:00:57.409 --> 00:00:59.929 But in this message, Chip takes us on a journey 00:00:59.929 --> 00:01:02.469 to better understand and appreciate this attribute 00:01:02.469 --> 00:01:05.810 in a way we may never have before. He has a lot 00:01:05.810 --> 00:01:08.230 to share, so let's get going. Here now is Chip 00:01:08.230 --> 00:01:12.569 with his message, The Love of God. I don't think 00:01:12.569 --> 00:01:15.849 I could make the statement, what the world needs 00:01:15.849 --> 00:01:19.909 now is love, sweet love. It's what everyone needs, 00:01:19.969 --> 00:01:22.030 what everyone wants. I don't think I could get 00:01:22.030 --> 00:01:24.269 hardly a person in the world to raise their hand 00:01:24.269 --> 00:01:26.530 and say, excuse me, I disagree. We don't need 00:01:26.530 --> 00:01:28.810 any more love. People being kind to one another, 00:01:28.989 --> 00:01:31.310 forgiving one another, taking care of each other, 00:01:31.409 --> 00:01:33.829 family staying together, people being sensitive. 00:01:34.030 --> 00:01:35.769 I'll tell you what, we got enough of that as 00:01:35.769 --> 00:01:42.450 there is. Now, think this through though. If 00:01:42.450 --> 00:01:46.870 universally we agree that the world needs love, 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:51.500 And we all need to be loved. Why is there such 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:57.400 little love? It's kind of amazing, isn't it? 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:04.120 I put a little statement of three facts about 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:08.259 love. Fact number one, it's a universal need. 00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:11.840 We are all looking for love. Fact number two 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.939 is there's a universal solution to the universal 00:02:14.939 --> 00:02:19.240 need. God loves all people everywhere and longs 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:20.800 to meet the deepest needs of their heart for 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:25.500 love. Fact number three, we have a universal 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:31.139 disconnect. There's a tragic disconnection. You 00:02:31.139 --> 00:02:34.740 have this unbelievable need and this supernatural, 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:39.319 unlimited, boundless availability. And nevertheless, 00:02:39.419 --> 00:02:44.099 most people remain starved for love. They're 00:02:44.099 --> 00:02:47.319 starved for love. And there's three reasons. 00:02:47.979 --> 00:02:50.379 Some people have no idea that God cares for them 00:02:50.379 --> 00:02:54.819 and loves them. Some of those people have tasted 00:02:54.819 --> 00:02:58.099 and they know about God's love, but they've not 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:00.539 received it. And then there's a whole nother 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:03.319 set of people that at least once or twice, they 00:03:03.319 --> 00:03:05.639 had this experience and for the life of them, 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:07.659 they don't know how to touch it or taste it again. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:11.479 I would say that's at least a decent picture 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:19.039 of a universal need. A universal solution and 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:21.680 a very tragic disconnect among both believers 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:26.259 and unbelievers. Brennan Manning in his little 00:03:26.259 --> 00:03:30.759 book called Abba's Child quotes Henry Nowen and 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:36.580 talks about what's the root cause behind Christians 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:41.180 not experiencing the love of God. I think his 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:44.639 words are instructive. Nowen writes, over the 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:46.560 years I've come to realize that the greatest 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:49.960 trap in our life is not success, popularity, 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:55.759 or power, but self -rejection. Follow his logic 00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:00.439 closely. Success, popularity, and power can indeed 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:03.879 present a great temptation, but their seductive 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:07.979 quality often comes from the way they are a part 00:04:07.979 --> 00:04:10.659 of a much larger temptation to self -rejection. 00:04:11.689 --> 00:04:14.509 When we have come to believe in the voices that 00:04:14.509 --> 00:04:19.470 call us worthless, unlovable, when we have voices 00:04:19.470 --> 00:04:21.970 that you're not worthy, you don't measure up 00:04:21.970 --> 00:04:24.730 as the idea, when we carry in our hearts shame 00:04:24.730 --> 00:04:28.810 and guilt in a sense that we are unlovable, then 00:04:28.810 --> 00:04:32.410 he goes on to say, success, popularity, and power 00:04:32.410 --> 00:04:35.790 are easily perceived as attractive solutions. 00:04:37.029 --> 00:04:41.140 The real trap, however, is self -rejection. Self 00:04:41.140 --> 00:04:43.079 -rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual 00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:46.240 life because it contradicts the sacred voice 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:50.740 that God calls us the beloved. We are beloved 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:55.079 in Christ. We are in Christ. Being the beloved 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:58.120 constitutes the core truth of our existence. 00:04:58.939 --> 00:05:02.399 I think at the core of the existence of God's 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:04.100 heart, at least in what I'm learning, and as 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:06.339 I've read many of the people that have walked 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:10.230 much deeper in the Christian life than me, It 00:05:10.230 --> 00:05:14.750 comes to the sense that believing just as you 00:05:14.750 --> 00:05:19.610 are, not if this gets cleaned up, not because 00:05:19.610 --> 00:05:24.329 you do this or do that, but just as you are because 00:05:24.329 --> 00:05:27.350 of who God is, that you are the object of his 00:05:27.350 --> 00:05:30.569 affection and that all these things about purity 00:05:30.569 --> 00:05:32.910 and all these things about caring for others 00:05:32.910 --> 00:05:35.170 and all these things about life transformation 00:05:35.170 --> 00:05:39.060 really start. if they're genuine, at the very, 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:42.000 very core of our existence, when we begin to 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:46.839 see ourselves as God sees us, as precious, as 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:51.639 valuable, as unconditionally loved, as the object 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:54.759 of his affection and concern. And there's nothing 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:57.139 that brings greater honor to God if we could 00:05:57.139 --> 00:06:01.660 learn to receive it. How great a love the Father 00:06:01.660 --> 00:06:05.839 has on us, has lavished upon us that we should 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:10.100 be called The children of God. So let's talk 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:13.639 about what love is. Let's see if we can move 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.920 it from that concept intellectual in our head 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:21.800 down to our hearts. For me, it's God's love is 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:24.279 his holy disposition toward all that he's created 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:27.740 that compels him to express unconditional affection. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.800 and selective correction to provide the highest 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:35.339 and best quality of existence, both now and forever 00:06:35.339 --> 00:06:38.959 for the objects of his love. Let me unpack that 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:40.560 just a little because the words were actually 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:44.480 chosen fairly carefully. God's love is holy. 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:45.920 In other words, we learned that word, right? 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:48.500 It means separate, Markov. It's totally other. 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.660 And it's a holy disposition. It's just the way 00:06:51.660 --> 00:06:54.540 he feels, the way he thinks all the time about 00:06:54.540 --> 00:06:58.319 you. And it's that he's created. He has this 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:02.079 holy disposition that compels him to do two things. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:05.560 He's just compelled, not because of something 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:08.720 in you, but because of something in him to express 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:11.620 unconditional affection. It's a holy disposition 00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:14.100 that compels him toward unconditional affection 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:17.959 and selective correction. See, God loves me so 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:20.899 much that anytime my life, my thought, my relationship, 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:23.779 my finances, and my priorities are moving me 00:07:23.779 --> 00:07:27.120 toward unhealthy things that will do damage to 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:29.660 me and damage to others, his love does what? 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:34.560 He brings about correction. See, that's what 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:38.079 God's love is. He's compelled to do it, but why? 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:41.279 In order to provide the highest and best quality 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:44.759 of existence. You know, the abundant life Jesus 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:46.319 talked about, that's just another way of saying 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:50.500 it. The highest, best, what's it mean? Life that's 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:54.680 really life. Living to the brim, living fulfilled, 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:58.439 living not dependent on people's response, but 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:01.680 something that wells up inside where the deepest 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.000 longings and thirsts of your soul are satisfied. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:09.819 That's what God wants for you. God's love is 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:13.360 other. And so absolutely beyond what we can grasp. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:18.360 And so that's kind of my definition. The characteristics 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:21.220 of this love, and I call it agape love. The New 00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:22.819 Testament writers actually made up that word. 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:24.639 They just didn't have a good word so that, you 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.600 know, we're going to take this word agape and 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:29.100 let's kind of sanctify it, put it in the New 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:32.039 Testament so it doesn't get confused with storge 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:34.080 or eros or some of these other kind of loves 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:37.769 that the Greek language was familiar with. And 00:08:37.769 --> 00:08:39.830 the characteristics are interesting. It's a giving 00:08:39.830 --> 00:08:42.789 love. It's a sacrificial love. It's an unconditional 00:08:42.789 --> 00:08:47.049 love. And it's a boundless love. God's love is 00:08:47.049 --> 00:08:49.870 expressed primarily through his goodness, mercy, 00:08:50.110 --> 00:08:53.629 long -suffering, and grace. And I have a quote 00:08:53.629 --> 00:08:55.649 here from one of my professors. I really like 00:08:55.649 --> 00:08:59.750 what Dr. Ryrie says here. He says, the love of 00:08:59.750 --> 00:09:04.929 God is like a tree, and then there are branches 00:09:04.929 --> 00:09:07.870 of its expression. And they are primarily his 00:09:07.870 --> 00:09:10.149 goodness, mercy, long -suffering, and grace. 00:09:10.769 --> 00:09:12.590 And he says, although there are distinctions 00:09:12.590 --> 00:09:14.950 as you study these words, they're really not 00:09:14.950 --> 00:09:19.289 exact. God's goodness may be defined as his benevolent 00:09:19.289 --> 00:09:22.350 concern for his creatures. Did you ever just 00:09:22.350 --> 00:09:26.529 think of God as the today, this moment? He's 00:09:26.529 --> 00:09:29.610 concerned about you. You know how some of you 00:09:29.610 --> 00:09:32.350 moms are? Hey, call me when you get there. Call 00:09:32.350 --> 00:09:35.509 me. I want to know you made it okay. The God 00:09:35.509 --> 00:09:38.169 of the universe sort of has that attitude. Hey, 00:09:38.289 --> 00:09:40.350 I'm just, I'm checking on you. I want to make 00:09:40.350 --> 00:09:42.710 sure everything's okay. Is that how you think 00:09:42.710 --> 00:09:46.490 of him? Or do you think of him as far away, hard 00:09:46.490 --> 00:09:48.649 to get to, wish you could get his attention. 00:09:49.710 --> 00:09:51.750 The love of God is expressed in his goodness. 00:09:52.149 --> 00:09:54.490 It's also divined as a benevolent concern for 00:09:54.490 --> 00:09:56.750 his creatures, as well as mercy is the aspect 00:09:56.750 --> 00:09:58.629 of his goodness that causes him to show pity 00:09:58.629 --> 00:10:02.129 and compassion. Have you ever just really blown 00:10:02.129 --> 00:10:04.889 it and just felt so shameful and so bad and just 00:10:04.889 --> 00:10:09.090 like, you're not even lovable. I mean, forget 00:10:09.090 --> 00:10:13.169 by God, by anybody. The love of God is expressed 00:10:13.169 --> 00:10:16.570 in his mercy. And he just looks down and says, 00:10:16.649 --> 00:10:19.580 this didn't surprise me at all. I'm not even 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:22.120 shocked. In fact, before the foundations of the 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:24.240 earth, when the God has been determining what 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.759 the price tag of men's freedom would be, Jesus 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:29.100 knew that he would come and he would hang on 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:33.580 a cross for that very shameful sin. It goes on 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:38.399 to say that his long suffering speaks of his 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:41.120 self -restraint in the face of provocation. Have 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:43.559 you ever thought of God exercising self -restraint? 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:45.840 I mean, you know, like you really need a spanking 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:49.039 and he just... I'll wait a couple more days. 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:51.779 You know, you just got a really rotten attitude 00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:54.059 or you're involved in some blatant sin, you know, 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:56.460 and the consequences should be swift, but he 00:10:56.460 --> 00:10:59.600 just loves you so much. God is practicing self 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:01.980 -restraint in his relationship with you. Why? 00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:04.179 Because he loves you. And then the final word 00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:06.519 there is grace. His unmerited favor shown primarily 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:09.860 through Christ, which makes possible a relationship 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:13.940 with him. You're listening to Living on the Edge. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:16.539 We'll return you to Chip's message in just a 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:18.840 minute, but let me quickly share with you, God 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:21.399 has called us to do incredible ministry work 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:24.379 all around the world. And when you partner with 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:26.480 us financially, you're a part of what we do. 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:29.879 So if you'd like to join us, go to livingontheedge 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:34.139 .org. We appreciate you giving whatever God leads 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:38.190 you to give. Well, with that, here's Chip. I've 00:11:38.190 --> 00:11:40.669 taken all that I've learned about God's love 00:11:40.669 --> 00:11:45.129 and I thought if I could put it in a few statements, 00:11:45.230 --> 00:11:49.549 a few simple statements to get it from this God 00:11:49.549 --> 00:11:52.110 loves me and I have these feelings now and then 00:11:52.110 --> 00:11:54.370 and okay, it's goodness and it's mercy and it's 00:11:54.370 --> 00:11:57.350 long suffering and I get a little flash of it. 00:11:57.429 --> 00:12:00.210 But I wanted to give you maybe a little summary 00:12:00.210 --> 00:12:05.330 of what it would look like if you could see specifically. 00:12:07.310 --> 00:12:10.990 what it feels like and how God thinks about you. 00:12:11.049 --> 00:12:14.110 So you could start to move it from up here, intellectual 00:12:14.110 --> 00:12:18.269 to down here to spiritual and emotional. And 00:12:18.269 --> 00:12:20.350 as I read these, what I'd like you to do is think 00:12:20.350 --> 00:12:22.509 about just this question, kind of lean back. 00:12:22.610 --> 00:12:27.090 Is this how I see God? Is this how I see God? 00:12:27.970 --> 00:12:31.909 And if sort of that quick gut reaction is. I 00:12:31.909 --> 00:12:34.509 might intellectually believe God is that way, 00:12:34.590 --> 00:12:37.570 but that is not how I see God or think of how 00:12:37.570 --> 00:12:40.970 he sees me. Then what you know is you have some 00:12:40.970 --> 00:12:44.590 renewal of the mind to do. Statement number one, 00:12:44.649 --> 00:12:48.009 God loves for you means his thoughts, intentions, 00:12:48.309 --> 00:12:51.350 desires, and plans for you are always for your 00:12:51.350 --> 00:12:54.570 good and never for your harm. We looked at, you 00:12:54.570 --> 00:12:57.549 know, Jeremiah 29, 11, and James 1. But think 00:12:57.549 --> 00:13:00.740 of that. Do you kind of in your heart of hearts 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:04.759 think that his desires and intents, his plans, 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:08.259 they're always for your good? He's just a very 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:12.440 safe, safe person to be with. And the plans for 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:15.039 the future that he has for you, his desires for 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:18.659 you, it's always for your welfare. See, if you 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:21.259 understand the love of God, that's what you'll 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:24.700 think. God's love for you means that he is kind. 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:29.080 He's open. He's approachable. He's frank. And 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:31.799 he's eager to be your friend. Do you see him 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:34.580 that member? I don't call you slaves because 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:36.159 a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:38.440 I've called you my friends for all things. The 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:40.759 father has made known to me. I've revealed to 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:44.139 you. Do you see him as open and friendly or is 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:46.419 he distant and unapproachable? And you know, 00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:48.279 you gotta be good to be on good terms. And when 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:50.000 you're good, he'll listen to you. But if you 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:53.549 struggled, he probably doesn't. God's love means 00:13:53.549 --> 00:13:58.929 that 24 seven, he's open. He's kind. He's approachable. 00:13:59.470 --> 00:14:02.289 God's love for you means he emotionally identifies 00:14:02.289 --> 00:14:05.169 with your pain, your joy, your hopes and dreams. 00:14:05.549 --> 00:14:09.389 And he's chosen to allow your happiness to affect 00:14:09.389 --> 00:14:12.470 his own. Have you thought of the, you know, when 00:14:12.470 --> 00:14:14.289 you're in pain and when you're hurt, is he on 00:14:14.289 --> 00:14:16.049 the other side of the fence and he's maybe kind 00:14:16.049 --> 00:14:18.490 of causing it? Or is he on the side of the fence 00:14:18.490 --> 00:14:22.399 behind you? With his arm around you and your 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:25.259 joys bring actually happiness to the heart of 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:28.399 God and your hurts and your struggles bring tears. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.659 Have you ever thought of that? Have you ever 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:33.340 thought that when Jesus' friend Lazarus died 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:38.639 in John 11, that he wept, that he hurt, that 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:42.200 he felt for Mary and he felt for Martha and it 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:44.879 broke his heart when he saw what a fallen world 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:49.549 and death did. Is that how you see God? That 00:14:49.549 --> 00:14:52.409 when you're really struggling, instead of being 00:14:52.409 --> 00:14:56.230 down on you, he weeps with you. God's love for 00:14:56.230 --> 00:14:58.190 you means, fourth, that he takes pleasure in 00:14:58.190 --> 00:15:01.470 you just for who you are, totally apart from 00:15:01.470 --> 00:15:04.409 your performance or your accomplishments. He's 00:15:04.409 --> 00:15:07.710 the God of Zephaniah 3. He's the God that is 00:15:07.710 --> 00:15:10.870 mighty. He is the God who is with you. He is 00:15:10.870 --> 00:15:13.169 the God that when there's confusion all around 00:15:13.169 --> 00:15:17.720 says, just let me quiet you with my love. And 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:22.399 let me sing over you in rejoicing. Is that how 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:26.320 you see him? You know who I'm describing? I'm 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:29.220 describing the God of the Bible. This is the 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:34.720 God of the Bible. Finally, God's love for you 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:37.639 means he's actively and creatively orchestrating 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:40.759 people's circumstances and events to express 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:44.539 his affection and selective correction to provide 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:48.830 for your highest good. Do you think of this God 00:15:48.830 --> 00:15:52.330 who is not only loving, but he's actively orchestrating 00:15:52.330 --> 00:15:56.210 and allowing relationships and events and circumstances. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.240 so that he could express affection through a 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:03.019 person, affection through a job promotion, affection 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:05.659 through a discovery of a spiritual gift, affection 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.860 through a new friend that really understands 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:10.580 you, affection through a relationship that you 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:12.659 never thought you would have, affection because 00:16:12.659 --> 00:16:15.080 your body wasn't working and for reasons that 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:17.460 none of us understand why or when or how, but 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:19.179 rather than through medicine, he decided just 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:23.480 to touch your body. Or does he also in his love 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:28.690 just... So care that selectively brings circumstances 00:16:28.690 --> 00:16:31.590 and people to bring about selective correction 00:16:31.590 --> 00:16:34.690 and bring some pain and discouragement and some 00:16:34.690 --> 00:16:37.309 depression. And maybe you lose a job. Maybe you 00:16:37.309 --> 00:16:40.429 lose a friend because he wants to get your attention. 00:16:40.889 --> 00:16:44.809 Maybe your 401k went bloop and maybe your business 00:16:44.809 --> 00:16:48.210 is going south because just little by little, 00:16:48.289 --> 00:16:51.610 you didn't mean to, but you're drifting. You're 00:16:51.610 --> 00:16:55.269 drifting. And he's so jealous and he so loves 00:16:55.269 --> 00:16:58.129 you and he sees where that's going to head. He 00:16:58.129 --> 00:17:00.250 does some things that make you mad at first. 00:17:01.149 --> 00:17:03.370 But like watching the little kid run out into 00:17:03.370 --> 00:17:06.210 the street, he runs out after you, grabs you 00:17:06.210 --> 00:17:08.869 by the neck, jerks you back so the car doesn't 00:17:08.869 --> 00:17:11.170 hit you, and then out of love gives you a little 00:17:11.170 --> 00:17:14.109 whack on the rear end and says to you, honey, 00:17:14.289 --> 00:17:17.950 don't go there anymore. You're too precious. 00:17:21.230 --> 00:17:23.410 You know, some of you may say to yourself, like 00:17:23.410 --> 00:17:27.210 I have struggled with, you know, of all the ones, 00:17:27.329 --> 00:17:29.269 this is kind of the neat. If this were true, 00:17:29.410 --> 00:17:32.809 it would be really neat. You know, that one on 00:17:32.809 --> 00:17:34.690 justice was kind of hard to take. The holiness 00:17:34.690 --> 00:17:37.289 was a little overwhelming. The wisdom I kind 00:17:37.289 --> 00:17:43.809 of liked. But boy, this would feed my soul. This 00:17:43.809 --> 00:17:47.690 would change my life. Is it really true? And 00:17:47.690 --> 00:17:49.609 so what I'd like to do is I'd like to demonstrate 00:17:49.609 --> 00:17:54.789 from scripture that this is the God that loves 00:17:54.789 --> 00:17:58.609 you and loves me. I'd like to walk through how 00:17:58.609 --> 00:18:01.329 God reveals his love to us through about one, 00:18:01.490 --> 00:18:04.589 two, three, four, five, oh, six different things. 00:18:06.509 --> 00:18:09.250 God reveals his love to us first through creation. 00:18:09.730 --> 00:18:13.230 Are you ready for this? He made you for himself. 00:18:13.950 --> 00:18:16.279 Do you ever think about this way? You know, Genesis 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:19.339 chapter 1, verse 26 and 27, then God said, let 00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:22.099 us make man in our own image, in our own likeness, 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:24.140 and let them rule over the fish of the sea and 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.880 the birds of the air and the livestock and over 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:28.119 the earth and over all the creatures that move 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:30.900 along the ground. So God created man in his own 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:33.140 image. In the image of God, he created him male 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:37.000 and female. He created them. He created you in 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:39.420 his own image. You're like him. And he creates 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:42.579 this. paradise and he wants to have a relationship 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:45.579 with you. And then in Colossians 1 16, you learn 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:48.660 for by him, Jesus, all things were created things 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:50.920 in heaven, things on earth, visible and invisible, 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:53.900 whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, 00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:57.400 all things were created by him. And I love this 00:18:57.400 --> 00:19:03.460 for him. You were created for him. He made you 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:07.230 so he could be with you. I remember when I was 00:19:07.230 --> 00:19:09.529 a little boy, I mean, it's so in our DNA because 00:19:09.529 --> 00:19:11.450 we're in God's image. I remember going to the 00:19:11.450 --> 00:19:13.690 beach as a little boy. And, you know, when you 00:19:13.690 --> 00:19:15.269 play in the sand and it was that kind of wet 00:19:15.269 --> 00:19:17.470 kind of sand where you could build stuff. I took 00:19:17.470 --> 00:19:20.529 about three hours. I mean, I dug the hole and 00:19:20.529 --> 00:19:22.450 got it. I thought it was real deep, but it seemed 00:19:22.450 --> 00:19:24.769 kind of deep. And then I built this wall and 00:19:24.769 --> 00:19:26.849 I was making this castle. And it was like on 00:19:26.849 --> 00:19:29.730 a cartoon. Some big kid I didn't know. Three 00:19:29.730 --> 00:19:32.589 hours. You feel bad for me already, don't you? 00:19:34.109 --> 00:19:36.329 Tell you what. Ladies in the front row here, 00:19:36.509 --> 00:19:38.329 they're going to be permanent prayer partners. 00:19:38.430 --> 00:19:42.230 Oh man, Chip, he's probably psychologically damaged 00:19:42.230 --> 00:19:45.890 for years. But seriously, this big kid comes 00:19:45.890 --> 00:19:49.450 and he kicks it all down. I'm five years old 00:19:49.450 --> 00:19:52.069 and I can still remember it. And I created sand 00:19:52.069 --> 00:19:56.150 castle from a little water. And this is how it 00:19:56.150 --> 00:20:00.009 made me feel. Why? Because what I make for me 00:20:00.009 --> 00:20:05.819 matters to me. And what God makes for him matters 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:09.900 to him. And he made you. He made you. That's 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:16.019 how much you matter. This is Living on the Edge 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:18.299 with Chip Ingram. And you've been listening to 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:20.599 part one of Chip's message, The Love of God, 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:23.900 from our series, The Real God. In just a minute, 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.980 Chip will share some helpful application for 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:28.400 us to think about. But right now, Chip's here 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:30.839 in studio to pass along a really important message 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:34.240 to all of you. Chip? Thanks, Dave. I want to 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:36.619 talk to those of you who partner with us financially. 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:39.799 Your gifts help us not just stay on the air, 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.799 but they provide the necessary funding to create 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:45.420 curriculum and develop our website and provide 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:48.400 resources at extraordinarily reasonable prices. 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:52.140 I mean, your giving is making an amazing impact. 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:55.440 So thank you very, very much. And for those of 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.039 you that are enjoying the benefits of living 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:59.539 on the edge, but you haven't yet become a financial 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:02.220 partner, would you consider doing that today? 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.819 Your gifts are going to get invested right back 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:07.220 into the ministry to assist us to develop resources, 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:11.359 stay on the air, and help Christians live like 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:14.339 Christians. I mean, is there ever a day when 00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:16.599 we need to make a difference? Well, it's now. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:19.980 Will you help us? Thanks, Chip. As you prayerfully 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:22.829 consider your role in this ministry, I want to 00:21:22.829 --> 00:21:25.069 remind you that every dollar is significant. 00:21:25.349 --> 00:21:28.029 When you partner with Living on the Edge, you 00:21:28.029 --> 00:21:30.609 multiply our efforts and resources in remarkable 00:21:30.609 --> 00:21:34.890 ways. To give a gift, go to livingontheedge .org 00:21:34.890 --> 00:21:41.289 or call 888 -333 -6003. Again, that's 888 -333 00:21:41.289 --> 00:21:47.849 -6003 or go to livingontheedge .org. App listeners, 00:21:47.970 --> 00:21:51.230 tap donate. Thanks. We appreciate whatever you 00:21:51.230 --> 00:21:54.299 can do to help. Well, here again is Chip. In 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:56.700 today's program, I tried to do something that 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:59.619 I know is impossible. I tried to describe the 00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:02.160 love of God. And we did go over a definition, 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:05.000 and it's a good place to start. Let me read it 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:08.099 for you one more time. God's love is his holy 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:11.000 disposition toward all that he's created that 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:14.059 compels him to express unconditional affection 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:17.099 and selective correction to provide the highest 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:20.460 and best quality of existence both now and forever 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:23.319 for the object of his love. And, you know, that's 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:25.440 a good definition. I think it's pretty accurate 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:27.960 and biblical, but it doesn't get down to the 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:31.380 emotional level. I want you to hear today. I 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:34.779 want to sink in how God really feels about you 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:38.619 totally apart from your performance. And so listen, 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:40.700 will you? Will you lean back if possible right 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:44.039 now? This is the God of the universe. His thoughts, 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:47.619 His intentions, His desires, and His plans for 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:50.980 you are always for your good and never for your 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:55.099 harm. Let that sink in. Everything He has lined 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:57.819 up for your life. is to bring something good 00:22:57.819 --> 00:23:01.380 and wonderful to you because he loves you. Second, 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:04.880 he's kind. He's open. He's approachable. He's 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:07.759 frank. And he's eager to be your friend. He's 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:10.160 not hard to get to know. He's not demanding. 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:14.440 He's not unreasonable. Third, he emotionally 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:17.759 identifies with your pain, your joy, your hopes, 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:22.019 your dreams, and he's actually allowed your happiness 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:25.160 to impact him. It's like a parent. I mean, when 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.900 your kids are doing well, there's joy in your 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:28.420 heart. And when they're hurting and in pain, 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:31.079 there's sorrow in your heart. Could you grasp 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:33.799 today that the God who created all that there 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:36.680 is, that's how he feels about you in your present 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:40.420 situation. And fourth, he takes pleasure in you 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:43.279 just for who you are. I mean, if you don't do 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:46.180 anything today, if you don't do any good works, 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:48.220 although there are valuable and important and 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:51.000 all the rest, it doesn't affect his love. It's 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:53.880 not based on that. And finally, I want to remind 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:56.539 you today and take this with you all throughout 00:23:56.539 --> 00:24:00.880 the day that he is actively and creatively orchestrating 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:04.799 people and circumstances and events this day 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:09.140 for you to express his affection and occasionally 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:12.740 some selective correction because you're his 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:16.640 child and you matter. Like the little song says, 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:20.920 Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:24.559 me so. And you are the object of that love today. 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:28.720 Bask in it, will you? Enjoy it. Great application 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:31.619 for us to think about, Chip. Thanks. You've been 00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:33.859 listening to a selected program that we wanted 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:36.539 to share from this past week. To hear more from 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:39.940 Chip's series, The Real God, go to livingontheedge 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:43.519 .org or wherever you listen to podcasts. Until 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:46.259 next time, I'm Dave Drewy saying thanks for listening 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:49.200 to this weekend edition of Living on the Edge.