History Books in 90 Days: 1 Chronicles 3-5
The Love of God
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice
over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing. (ESV)
There is an emotional identification to love. Yes, love is a commitment that we make to people, and
yes, we know that obedience is a form of love (John 14:15) but love is more than that. We see this
constantly in our world – love and affection go hand in hand. Acts of self-sacrifice are common to
love, Jesus said “greater love has no one than this, that He lay down his life for His friends” (John
15:13). 1 John 4:10 tells us that “this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent
His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins”. Today’s verse shows us that God takes pleasure in
His people, He rejoices over His children with gladness. God is happy in His love for all that He has
made. Many think of God as far removed, gloomy and mightily displeased with everything, gazing
down in a mood of fixed apathy upon a world in which He has long ago lost interest; but this is to
think erroneously. God hates sin and can never look with pleasure upon iniquity but where people
seek to do God’s will He responds in genuine affection. In Christ, all repentant souls are objects of
God’s delight. The Lord takes pleasure in His saints! He will rejoice over you with singing, He will
quite you with His love! The love of God is one of the greatest realities in the universe, yet His love
for you is personal and intimate! He loves you with a mighty love that has no beginning or end!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. As you read today’s devotional, what are some of your thoughts and feelings towards God?
What evidence is there in your life that you view God’s love this way?
2. Spend some time in personal thanksgiving and worship of the Lord for His love for you!
3. Ask the Lord to give you a deeper emotional identification of His love towards you. Pray that
this would motivate you to love Him back by being committed to Him and obeying His Word.
Pray that you would feel His pleasure over you as you seek Him with a repentant heart.
