The Love of God
“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
— Zephaniah 3:17
God’s love often defies explanation, yet it is a reality we can rest in and experience. Tozer’s reflections on the love of God in Chapter 20 of The Knowledge of the Holy invite us to stretch our hearts toward this vast and eternal truth, not in an attempt to fully comprehend it, but to marvel at its beauty and receive it as the gift it is.
When we say “God is love,” we are not reducing Him to a single attribute, as if His holiness, justice, or sovereignty could be set aside. Rather, His love flows in harmony with all that He is. His love is holy, infinite, and eternal. It is a love that cannot be earned and, thankfully, cannot be lost. As Tozer so eloquently writes, “Thou art Thyself the reason for the love wherewith we are loved.”
This truth invites us to rest. Rest from striving to earn what cannot be earned. Rest from the fear that we may lose His favor. Rest from the lies of self-condemnation, which whisper that we are unworthy of love. His love silences those accusations. It was never about our worthiness but about His character.
In Christ, God’s love is revealed most clearly. It is active, giving, and sacrificial. The cross stands as the ultimate proof that God’s love is not theoretical or distant but personal and transformative. While human love may falter or demand something in return, His love freely gives. Even when we were sinners, He loved us, and this love remains unshaken by our failures.
Tozer’s words remind us that God’s love casts out fear. Fear often arises when we feel vulnerable, unsure of how others—or life itself—may harm us. But when we understand that the Creator of the universe wills our eternal good, fear begins to lose its grip. His love is not only infinite but sovereign. Nothing can thwart His purpose to bring about what is best for His children.
This love is also deeply personal. God does not love populations or masses in the abstract. He loves individuals—He loves you. Tozer captures this tender reality beautifully, writing that God takes pleasure in His creation and, especially, in His redeemed people. This is not a distant or stoic affection. It is a love that rejoices, that sings over us, that binds itself to us for eternity.
The beauty of God’s love is that it invites us not only to receive but also to reflect. Love is not passive; it moves us toward others. Tozer points to the example of Christ, who laid down His life for His friends. In the same way, we are called to pour out the love we have received, not out of obligation, but as a natural outflow of the life of Christ within us.
As you meditate on God’s love, let it quiet your heart and draw you closer to Him. Know that His love is not only a great pillar of the universe but also a deeply personal and enduring reality in your life. Rest in it, trust in it, and let it flow through you to others.
Closing Prayer
Father, Your love is eternal and unchanging, reaching us not because of who we are but because of who You are. Thank You for the assurance that nothing in the universe can separate us from this love. May this truth calm our fears and draw us closer to You, trusting in Your perfect will. Let Your love flow through us to touch those around us, bringing healing and unity to our relationships. Amen.