Counsel #3 — Severe Judge Or Infinite Lover?

Picture: Counsel #3 — Severe Judge Or Infinite Lover?CSL 93.1

God's love for humanity is profound and multifaceted. From the wonders of nature to the capacity for deep love within us, glimpses of His character are woven throughout creation. However, these reflections are incomplete. Despite these divine indications of His love, Satan, the adversary, works to distort our perception of God. He fosters fear and misunderstanding, painting God as a harsh judge waiting to pounce on our missteps. This couldn't be further from the truth. Jesus came to earth to expose these lies and reveal His Father’s true nature. Through His life and teachings, Jesus embodied God's immense love for humanity. In Him we see God's true character: not a vengeful being, but a loving Father seeking a relationship with His creation.^{[95]https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/428.598#598}CSL 93.2

The loving character of God is the foundation of His commandments. He longs to give us power to keep those commandments and overcome every sin so that we can reflect His image and at last live with Him forever in His kingdom of joy!CSL 93.3

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 NIVCSL 93.4

“When we fully understand the love of God, we most clearly see how terrible sin is…. When we understand something of Christ’s sacrifice, then we are truly sorry for our sins, and our hearts are full of love for Him.” Ellen White in Steps to Jesus, p. 32CSL 93.5

Reflect: In what ways does God's love empower you to resist temptation and overcome sin?CSL 93.6