Day 10: God Is Love, Not Indifferent, Not Sentimental
The Doctrine of God: Days 2-28
Scripture
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8 ESV
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 ESV
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8 ESV
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 ESV
Confessional Summary
The Reformers saw God’s love as holy mercy rooted in God Himself and proven in the saving work of Christ. Westminster confesses that God is “most loving, gracious, merciful,” meaning His love is not a mood, but His settled goodness toward His people (Westminster Confession of Faith 2.1).
Heidelberg begins our comfort in the same place, not in how steady we feel, but in the fact that we belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ (Heidelberg Catechism 1).
The Reformers believed God’s love is His steady, holy mercy shown decisively in Christ, so our comfort rests not on our feelings but on belonging to Jesus in life and in death.
The Reformers saw God’s love as holy mercy rooted in God Himself and proven in the saving work of Christ. Westminster confesses that God is “most loving, gracious, merciful,” meaning His love is not a mood, but His settled goodness toward His people (Westminster Confession of Faith 2.1).
Heidelberg begins our comfort in the same place, not in how steady we feel, but in the fact that we belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ (Heidelberg Catechism 1).
The Reformers believed God’s love is His steady, holy mercy shown decisively in Christ, so our comfort rests not on our feelings but on belonging to Jesus in life and in death.
Reflection
“God is love” is not a soft slogan. Romans 5:8 tells you what it means. God did not wait for you to become presentable. He moved toward you while you were still a sinner. That means His love is not a reaction to your worth. It is a decision flowing from His own goodness.
This is why God’s love does not flatter you. It rescues you. Sentimental love says, you are fine. Holy love says, you are mine, and I will not leave you in what is killing you. The cross is not God overlooking sin. It is God dealing with sin at infinite cost. Love has nails in it. Love has blood on it. Love has a Name.
If you measure God’s love by your circumstances, you will swing between pride and panic. If you measure it by the cross, you can be honest about your sin without despair, and you can face suffering without concluding God has gone cold.
“God is love” is not a soft slogan. Romans 5:8 tells you what it means. God did not wait for you to become presentable. He moved toward you while you were still a sinner. That means His love is not a reaction to your worth. It is a decision flowing from His own goodness.
This is why God’s love does not flatter you. It rescues you. Sentimental love says, you are fine. Holy love says, you are mine, and I will not leave you in what is killing you. The cross is not God overlooking sin. It is God dealing with sin at infinite cost. Love has nails in it. Love has blood on it. Love has a Name.
If you measure God’s love by your circumstances, you will swing between pride and panic. If you measure it by the cross, you can be honest about your sin without despair, and you can face suffering without concluding God has gone cold.
Application
When you doubt God’s love today, do not start by reading your life. Start by looking at Christ crucified. Then bring one specific sin into the light, not vague guilt, and receive forgiveness without bargaining. After that, practice love that seeks someone’s true good, with truth, patience, and costly kindness, not mere niceness.
Prayer
God of love, thank You for loving me in Christ while I was still a sinner. Anchor me in the cross when my feelings wobble. Teach me to receive Your love with humility, and to give love with truth and sacrifice. Amen.
When you doubt God’s love today, do not start by reading your life. Start by looking at Christ crucified. Then bring one specific sin into the light, not vague guilt, and receive forgiveness without bargaining. After that, practice love that seeks someone’s true good, with truth, patience, and costly kindness, not mere niceness.
Prayer
God of love, thank You for loving me in Christ while I was still a sinner. Anchor me in the cross when my feelings wobble. Teach me to receive Your love with humility, and to give love with truth and sacrifice. Amen.
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2026
January
Day 1: Our Chief End, All of Life for God's GloryDay 2: The Doctrine of God, The God Who IsDay 3: God Is, The Living God Who Truly ExistsDay 4: God Speaks First, Knowing the Living GodDay 5: The Only True God, No RivalsDay 6: God is Spirit, Not Like UsDay 7: God Is Self-Existent, “I AM”Day 8: God Is Not Divided, His Perfections Do Not CompeteDay 9: God Is Holy, Not Safe, Not CommonDay 10: God Is Love, Not Indifferent, Not SentimentalDay 11: God Is Just, The Judge of All the EarthDay 12: God Is Merciful, He Delights to PardonDay 13: God Is Sovereign, None Can Stay His HandDay 14: God Is Wise, Never Confused, Never LateDay 15: God Is Good, He Does GoodDay 16: God Is True, He Cannot LieDay 17: God Is Eternal, Before All, After AllDay 18: God Is Unchanging, Your AnchorDay 19: God Is Omniscient, Fully Known by God, Fully Loved in ChristDay 20: God Is Omnipresent, Never AbsentDay 21: God Is Omnipotent, God Is AbleDay 22: The Trinity, One God in Three PersonsDay 23: The Father, Source, Sender, and AdopterDay 24: The Son Eternal God Redeeming LordDay 25: The Spirit, Lord, and Giver of LifeDay 26: God’s Grace and Decree: Salvation Begins with GodDay 27: Providence: The Fatherly Hand Over All ThingsDay 28: Worship, The Proper End of the Doctrine of GodDay 29: The Doctrine of Scripture, The God Who SpeaksDay 30: Revelation; General and SpecialDay 31: The Authority of Scripture
February
Day 32: Inspiration, God-Breathed and Given by the SpiritDay 33: The Authority of Scripture, The Line You Do Not CrossDay 34: Self-Authenticating Scripture, Recognizing the Word of GodDay 35: The Role of the Holy Spirit, Illumination Not InnovationDay 36: Inerrancy and Truthfulness, Truth Has a NameDay 37: The Sufficiency of Scripture, God’s Word is EnoughDay 38: The Clarity of Scripture, An Open DoorDay 39: The Canon of Scripture, A Settled WordDay 40: The Unity of Scripture, One Story, One SaviorDay 41: Preservation of Scripture, The Word Kept PureDay 42: Translation and Accessibility, The Word Made PlainDay 43: Scripture and Tradition, The Final Court of AppealDay 44: Scripture and the ChurchDay 45: Scripture and Worship, God Sets the TermsDay 46: Scripture and Preaching, God Speaks Through MeansDay 47: Scripture and ObedienceDay 48: Scripture and SanctificationDay 49: Scripture and Comfort, God Speaks PeaceDay 50: Scripture and Assurance, God Speaks CertaintyTaking a Pause