“Is it true that God is love to me as a Christian? And does the love of God mean all that has been said? If so, certain questions arise.
Why do I ever grumble and show discontent and resentment at the circumstances in which God has placed me? Why am I ever distrustful, fearful, or depressed? Why do I allow myself to grow cool, formal, and halfhearted in the service of the God who loves me so?
Why do I ever allow my loyalties to be divided, so that God does not have all my heart?
John wrote that “God is love” in order to make an ethical point, “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). Could an observer learn from the quality and degree of love that I show to others – my wife? my husband? my family? my neighbors? people at church? people at work? – anything at all about the greatness of God’s love to me?
Meditate upon these things. Examine yourself.”
~ J. I. Packer, Knowing God
Former Blackout Artist 