Evidence of God's Love and Care in Everyday Experiences

God's love is a foundational concept, described as an inherent part of God's character ^[10]. The First Epistle of John states directly, "God is love" ^[1]. This divine love is not merely an abstract quality but is actively demonstrated and experienced in the world and in the lives of believers ^{[4, 5]}.

One of the primary manifestations of God's love is the sending of Jesus Christ. "By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him" ^[4]. This act is described as the ultimate testimony of God's gift of eternal life, which is found in His Son ^[3]. The love of Christ, though surpassing full human comprehension, is the basis for the Christian life, offering an experience and personal knowledge of God's grace ^{[12, 17]}. This love is considered greater than ordinary human affection ^[12].

The Bible describes God's loving-kindness in various ways: it is "great" (Nehemiah 9:17), "excellent" (Psalm 36:7), "good" (Psalm 69:16), and "marvellous" (Psalm 17:7) ^[6]. It is also characterized as multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful ^[6]. This loving-kindness is experienced "through Christ" and is a source of comfort and preservation for believers ^[6]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalms, describes God's loving-kindness as "unmerited, free, and sovereign," originating from eternity and extending to eternity, and "better than life" ^[15].

Evidence of God's care is also seen in the way afflictions can be made beneficial. Difficult experiences can promote God's glory, exhibit His power and faithfulness, and teach individuals His will ^[11]. Afflictions can turn people back to God, prevent them from straying, and lead them to seek Him in prayer ^[11]. They can also bring conviction of sin and lead to confession ^[11].

The experience of God's love fosters assurance in believers. This assurance is produced by faith and confirmed by love ^[7]. It provides certainty regarding election, redemption, adoption, salvation, eternal life, and the "unalienable love of God" ^[7]. The apostle Paul, in Romans 1:9, speaks of his unceasing prayers, indicating a deep affection and care for the Philippians, which Calvin interprets as a testimony to God's will for the edification of His Church ^{[2, 14]}.

Love for God is commanded as the "first great commandment" (Matthew 22:38) and should be expressed with one's whole heart ^[8]. This love is produced by the Holy Spirit and by God's prior love for humanity ^[8]. It manifests in joy, love for other believers, hatred of sin, and obedience to God's commands ^{[8, 18]}. Adam Clarke notes that love for God's followers serves as proof of love for God, and keeping God's commandments demonstrates that love ^[18]. Similarly, love for Christ is demonstrated through seeking Him, obeying Him, ministering to Him, and prioritizing Him above all else ^[9]. This love is to be sincere and supreme ^[9].

The presence of Christ within a believer is understood to complete their life, filling it with "all the fullness of life and power," conforming them to His image and reflecting God ^[12]. This intimate connection underscores the personal and pervasive nature of God's love and care in everyday existence. The "faith in Christ Jesus provides access to all of God’s favor and grace," and this faith is expressed through love for others ^[16]. The perpetual care God extends to His Church is assured through present experience ^[13].

Sources

I John “I John 4:16 (BBE) — And we have seen and had faith in the love which God has for us. God is love, and everyone who has love is in God, and God is in him.”
Romans “For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers, -- Romans 1:9”
1 John “The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. -- 1 John 5:11”
1 John “By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. -- 1 John 4:9”
I John “I John 4:9 (ASV) — Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to God — Commanded -- De 11:1; Jos 22:5. The first great commandment -- Mt 22:38. With all the heart -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Better than all sacrifices -- Mr 12:33. Produced by The Holy Spirit. -- Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:5. The love of God to us. -- 1Jo 4:19. Answers to prayer. -- Ps 116:1. Exhibited by Christ -- Joh 14:31. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 5:11. Should produce Joy. -- Ps 5:11. Love to saints. -- 1Jo 5:1. Hatred of sin. -- Ps 97:10. Obedience to God. -- De 30:20; 1Jo 5:3. Perfected in obedience -- 1Jo 2:5. Perfected, gives boldness -- 1Jo 4:17,18. God, faith”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Christ — Exhibited by God -- Mt 17:5; Joh 5:20. Exhibited by saints -- 1Pe 1:8. His personal excellence is deserving of -- Song 5:9-16. His love to us a motive to -- 2Co 5:14. Manifested in Seeking him. -- Song 3:2. Obeying him. -- Joh 14:15,21,23. Ministering to him. -- Mt 27:55; 25:40. Preferring him to all others. -- Mt 10:37. Taking up the cross for Him. -- Mt 10:38. A characteristic of saints -- Song 1:4. An evidence of adoption -- Joh 8:42. Should be Sincere. -- Eph 6:24. With the soul. -- Song 1:7. In proportion to our mercies. -- Lu 7:47. Supreme. -- ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:19: 3:19 May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1). • it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8). • The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14, 24; 5:1-2; Rom 8:29; 2”
Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 48:8: This present experience assures of that perpetual care which God extends to His Church.”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 5.4: That it might be as a testimony rendered to its God, Will in the Church of God serve as seed From which children shall come forth, filled with understanding.’“ 8. For God is my witness. He now declares more explicitly his affection for them, and, with the view of giving proof of it, he makes use of an oath, and that on good grounds, because we know how dear in the sight of God is the edification of his Church. It was, too, more especially of advantage, that Paul’s affection should be thoroughly made known to the Phi”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 26:3: For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes,.... The special lovingkindness of God, shown in the choice of him in Christ, in the provision of a Saviour for him, and in the effectual calling of him; which lovingkindness is unmerited, free, and sovereign, is from everlasting and to everlasting; it is better than life, excellent beyond expression, and marvellous: and this may be said to be "before his eyes"; because it was now in sight; he had a comfortable view of interest in it, and was persuaded nothing should separate him from it; it was upon his heart, shed abroad in”
Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:6: 5:6 Faith in Christ Jesus provides access to all of God’s favor and grace, so no further benefit is available through human effort. Faith is expressed by exercising love toward others (cp. Rom 13:10; 14:17-19; 2 Cor 8:8-13).”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:18: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,.... The love of Christ to his own, to his church and people, is special and peculiar; free and Sovereign; as early as his Father's love, and is durable and unchangeable; the greatest love that ever was heard of; it is matchless and unparalleled; it is exceeding strong and affectionate, and is wonderful and surprising: the instances of it are, his engaging as a surety for them; his espousing both their persons and their cause; his assumption of their nature; his dying in their room and stead; his payment of th”
1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 5:2: By this we know that we love the children of God - Our love of God's followers is a proof that we love God. Our love to God is the cause why we love his children, and our keeping the commandments of God is the proof that we love him.”

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