Created for Love: Designed in the Image of Our Loving Father

Did you know you were created for love? In the beginning, God made man in His image. All was perfect. The garden was perfect, man was perfect, and God’s relationship with man was perfect. But then the enemy stepped in and deceived them into thinking that God was hiding something from them. He caused them to question God and His character, and in doing so, he managed to convince Eve to take a bite from the forbidden tree. The consequences of that decision were severe, to say the least.

 

Created for Love: Designed in the Image of Our Loving Father | alyssajhoward.com

 

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The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. – 1 John 4:8

 

If God is love and we were made in His image, then we were made in the image of love.

 

God created us in love. And even when we rebelled and lived in sin, He still loved us. In His love, He sent Jesus so that once again we could be made perfect in His love.

 

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. – 1 John 4:9-12

 

From the beginning, it’s been all about love. Why? Because God is love. It’s who He is. And therefore, it’s how He created us to be as well.

 

If we are children of God, that makes us children of love. Think about it this way:

Who created us? Love

Why did He create us? Love

What did Jesus call the greatest commandment? Love.

Why did He die for our sins? Love.

How are we called to live as believers? Love.

 

You were designed by love, in His image, making you created for love.

 

 

So what does this mean for us and our renewed minds? Well… everything. A renewed mind in Christ is one that lives in a constant state of love. We love God with all we have, and we love others the way Jesus loved us.

If I’m being honest, it’s a lot easier for me to love God than it is to love others. I hate admitting that, but it’s true. God is faithful and true, and I long to show Him love and adoration. But others… it’s hard to love others sometimes. Loving others means that I love everyone, even those who hurt and offend me or those who simply “rub me the wrong way” and get on my nerves. It means forgiving unconditionally… even without an apology.

Jesus laid down His life for us even when we were still in our sin. This is how we are called to love others.

 

But there’s good news for people like me. God is love. And when I surrendered my life to Him, I was given the mind of Christ. I don’t have to rely on my own ability to show love; rather the Holy Spirit transforms my mind to love the way God loves.

I was created for love. And now that God’s love dwells within me, I can be who He created me to be.

 

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. – 1 John 4:16

 

Click here for a full list of posts in this 31-day series!

 

New Bible Study: Renewed and Transformed | alyssajhoward.com

 

Created for Love: Designed in the Image of Our Loving Father | alyssajhoward.com

 

 

*Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

**Photo by Ben White at ChristianPics.co

 

 


 

 

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