How have you loved us? 1 John 4:7-5:5

'“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?”' (Malachi 1:2).

I picture these people, arms crossed and chins lifted, with Oh, really? written all over their raised eyebrows. They dared God to show them evidence of His love. 

When we read “God is love”, declared twice between 1 John 4:7-5:5, I wonder if we secretly ask the same question that Israel asked thousands of years ago. The grand, eternal scale of God’s love seems so elaborate, that perhaps everyday life raises doubts about whether His love is tangible in our personal experiences. Or maybe we think Israel was justified in their stance since Jesus had not yet come to earth.

If the people of Israel unrolled an inspired scroll and rolled up their sleeves with a passion to find answers, the record of how they had experienced God’s love would have been clear long before Jesus appeared. Throughout the plotline of history, God had been lavishing covenant-keeping, unfailing love and kindness on His children.

Peering over Israel’s shoulders, we can ask if there's really evidence of His love for them and for us:

Has God answered any specific prayers you prayed? 

That was His love. Genesis 24:12-21

Has God ever taken the little you had and made much of it? 

That was His love. Genesis 32:10

Has God shown kindness in unfair circumstances? 

That was His love. Genesis 39:21

Has God ever forgiven you? 

That was His love. Numbers 14:19

Did God bring redemption when all hope was lost? 

That was His love. Ruth 2:20

Has God brought you relief from self-inflicted hardship? 

That is His love. Ezra 9:6-9

Has God stayed when He could have left? 

That is His love. Nehemiah 9:17

Has God been with you in your anguish? 

That is His love. Psalm 31:7

Has God been merciful to you in your sin? 

That is His love. Psalm 51:1

Did you ever have a season of flourishing? 

That was God’s love. Psalm 52:8

Did you ever feel fortified with strength? 

That was God’s love. Psalm 59:16

Has God delivered you from the depths? 

That was His love. Psalm 86:13

Did you ever fear slipping, but you were supported? 

That was God’s love. Psalm 94:18

Jesus is the climax of this love and our reason to exclaim, “How you have loved us!”