It is important to understand God’s love. You will only find your true worth and value in God. When you know who you are, you have nothing to prove to anyone.  We will never be able to love God or people until we know how valuable we are. 

Key lesson’s on God’s Love from the Story of the Prodigal Son

One of the greatest stories of God’s love is the story of the prodigal son in Luke 11. This story is the story that Jesus told of a father who had two sons—the prodigal son and his older brother. The prodigal son requested his inheritance and one his father gave it to him, he packed all his belongings and left his father’s house and journeyed to a foreign country. His older brother, also a key part of the story, remained in his father’s house.

Not much longer after the prodigal son left his father’s house, he squandered all he had and began to suffer.  The prodigal son remembered that things were better and he decided to he returned back to his father’s house. His father does something interesting –

• He gives him a robe, ring, and shoes
• The robe – is the robe of righteousness – right standing with God.
• The ring – authority – the ring signified who you are and whose you are-
• Shoes – purpose

The older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son

The senior brother who remained in his father’s house was angry when he saw how much love his father lavished on his wayward brother. His father appealed to the senior brother not to be angry but to rejoice for the safe return of the prodigal son. Neither of the two sons understood how deeply their father loved them. The prodigal son thought he would be satisfied with material things and he also thought he could survive apart from his father. The older son who remained in his father’s house serving didn’t enjoy any of his father’s provisions instead worked hard for his father just like one of his father’s servants. Neither’s of these sons understood the unconditional love of the father that can neither be earned or deserved. The good father loved the prodigal son in spite of his shortcomings. The good father loved the older son and didn’t need him to earn his love.

God’s love is everlasting

According to Ecclesiastes3:11, God set eternity in our hearts. Do you know why? God wants mankind to really discover God and know him intimately. God wants mankind to know his love. God’s love is so amazing and indescribable that the only way to actually understand his love is to experience it for yourself. What most people know is the general sense of God’s love. Yes—God loves the whole world. Yes, God loves mankind.

In Ephesians 3:17-21, the Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the Ephesian church to know God love. 

Ephesians 3:17-2:

¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, ²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Apostle Paul Prayer for God’s People to Know God’s Love

1. The Length – this love will take you through the distance — never gives up on you
2. The Height – this love is the greatest
3. The Depth – this love is deep —

There is a difference between the general sense of God’s love and the experiential level of God’s love. It is one thing to know that God is great — but do you see Gods greatness working for you?It is one thing to know God is good – but do you have Gods goodness working for you

For additional resources to learn about love check out this other blog Message – How to forgive someone