In the latter days of Israel’s history, God said, “I have loved you” to which His people responded, “In what way have You loved us?” (Mal 1:2).

From reading the Bible, we know how God loved the Israelites. For example, right from the beginning, Moses reminded the Israelites how they saw God carry them, as a man carries his son (Deut 1:31). Moses also testified that God had set His love on them (Deut 7:7). Indeed they should say, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying, ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you’” (Jer 31:3).

In the days of Malachi, God had shown so much mercy in not totally destroying them from under heaven but leaving them a remnant. Through this remnant, God brought them back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, the city and the wall. They had enjoyed God’s grace lavished upon them. For them to say, “In what way have You loved us?” is exasperating to say the least.

Perhaps God has not asked us this question directly. But if we know that our zeal towards God is on a low, should we not ask ourselves this question, “In what way has God loved us?” If we do not reflect on this question, it is easy to fall from our first love and find that God has something against us (Rev 2:4). It is unacceptable not to love God because just as He first loved us, we should be moved to love Him throughout our lives (1 Cor 16:22; 1 Jn 4:19).

Upon reflection, we should understand God’s love is as strong as death (Song 8:6). He was manifested in the flesh and has indeed washed us from our sins in His own blood. Shouldn’t we then stir up the gift of God in us and stir up love and good works in each other (2 Tim 1:6; Heb 10:24)? We are indeed in the end of the end-time. Christ is returning soon. May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God to serve Him more while we still have breath to repay His grace.

Questions for Reflection

1.      How far do you reach in trying to remember God’s love for you?

2.      With the wealth of God’s abundant grace, what have you decided to do for Him that is still to be done?