BUV 2022 4-Part Easter Series: Love Beyond Measure
Part 1: Introduction

I am an empty nester, with one adult son who lives about a 15 minute drive from my house. This is a good season of life for my wife and I, as we no longer have the parental responsibility to meet the immediate physical and emotional needs of a dependent child.  Thus freeing us up to spend more time together and to allowing us to more time to focus on other demands of our schedule.

Yet, just because my son is an adult and does not live in my home, doesn’t mean I love him any less than I did when he was 2, 5, 10 or 15.  I love my son because he is my son. Not because of his age, where he lives, the job he does, company he keeps or even the choices he makes in life. I may not always agree with him; I can get disappointed, frustrated and even angry with him. But that does not stop me loving him.

So it is with God’s love for us. We are God’s children; daughters and sons. We belong to him. No matter how old we are, where we live, choices we make, church we attend, struggles we endure and even mistakes we make. We are God’s children and He loves us.

In fact, the apostle Paul in Romans 8 suggests that God’s love for us is beyond measure:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Rom 8:38-39 

As we travel through life and endure some of life’s hardships, we may doubt the veracity of this statement. Indeed, in recent years we have literally endured fires, floods, earthquakes and a global pandemic. Many have lost loved ones, been inflicted with sickness, loss of income and a variety of other hardships.

Are these trials some kind of sign that God has abandoned us? On the contrary. The Apostle Paul had been through many trials: unjust persecution, famine, false arrest, shipwreck, threat of murder, and so much more. Yet, he remained confident in the truth that God’s love knows no end. There isn’t anything that we have done, should have done, or that’s been done to us that can keep God from loving us. His love is constant and unstoppable. The only thing we can be assured of as we travel through the tumultuous journey of life is the love and faithfulness of God. 

We are God’s children, bearers of his image and because of that he loves us unconditionally. This means if we walk away – he will always leave the door unlocked, in hope of our return. If we call, he will always be there to hear our concerns and even our complaints. When we suffer, he will gently come beside us and soothe our pain. God loves us, in spite of all our failings and sin, he loves us as a parent loves a child.

In God’s love we have the promised inheritance of eternal life, mercy, grace and forgiveness that is ours with the simple acceptance of Jesus’ death on the cross. Nothing can ever take His love from us. We are children of the most-high God, and He will never stop loving you or me unconditionally…nothing you do can change that!

Know that the Lord is with you today and loves you beyond measure!

For discussion 

If someone said to you that because of their past and decisions they have made in life, that they could never become a follower of Jesus, because they are simply unworthy of God’s love. How would you respond?

Have you ever questioned God’s love for yourself? What were the circumstances surrounding your questioning? How did you work through this period of your faith journey? If you have never questioned God’s love, what gives you such confidence?  

Content 

For context read the whole of Romans 8

Now focus in on verse 31-39

1. Identify 5 questions stated in the passage. What is the cumulative impact of these questions?
2. What do these verses reveal about the nature of God?
3. What do they reveal about God’s perspective of you?

Application 

Can you share a story or experience of God working through your suffering, challenges or trials?

Thinking about your present trials, indeed the present challenges of the world we inhabit. How does God’s love, as revealed in this passage and other passages in Scripture, help you navigate and come to terms with pain, suffering and injustice?