Stanley Burrell was batboy for the Oakland Athletics from 1973 to 1980. During that time, he was given the nickname “Hammer” because he looked so much like the homerun, king Hammering Hank Aaron.
After his time with the Athletics, Hammer went on to write and perform the first rap song ever nominated for a Grammy Award record of the year. It became the winner for best R&B and best rap solo performance.
The song – U Can’t Touch This. The artist – M.C. Hammer.
I like it. It has an inviting, catchy rhythm. The title is repeated many times during the song.
U Can’t Touch This.
What’s interesting is how these words have helped me get a deeper understanding of some key aspects of God’s love.
You may wonder how the title of a rap song could possibly illuminate God’s love. Let’s take a look.
Everlasting Love
On a vacation in Highlands N.C. a number of years ago, I was struck by the the following verse.
The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jeremiah 31:3 NASB)
As I rocked on the front porch, staring at the Appalachians, towering above the small mountain town, I dug deeper. I discovered that “Ahabah,” the Hebrew word translated “everlasting love,” describes a quality of love which is beyond corruption. It can’t be changed by anything physical or what goes on in our souls.
With all the recent devastation in the world, the idea of God’s love not changing, no matter what the circumstance, is extraordinary news. It also means neither choices, thoughts or feelings can affect His everlasting love.
The steady embrace of God’s love for us can’t be changed. It remains untouched and unaffected by any external force. You can’t touch God’s love in a way which can change it.
U Can’t Touch This.
As believers, this changes everything about us, especially since we’ve been chosen to be loved by God since before the world began. [1]
And how do we more fully grasp this quality of love which is not only unchangeable, but vast beyond belief?
As we ponder and meditate on the enormity of God’s everlasting love, let’s consider other aspects which add to the quality of His amazing love:
God’s Love Rescued Us
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:8-10 NASB)
We were apart from God, facing eternal darkness with no ability to change the situation. In our helpless state, while we were still hostile toward Him, God choose to rescue us. And He did it by sending His Son to die in our stead.
Please don’t allow the familiarity of this great news to cheapen the impact!
We were hostile and helpless, but God, out of His unparalleled love, gave His Son to save us.
And, not only did He save us from God’s wrath by His death, much more will He now preserve and heal us by His indwelling life.
Jesus Loves Us as Much as God Loves Him
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”[3] Jesus
As much as God loves Jesus, He loves us. How can this really be? It seems unimaginable. Yet, Jesus said it. It is true!
Don’t rush past this. Remain in the truth of Jesus’ abiding love.
But, we can’t assume upon the love and grace of Christ. [4] Though our actions can’t change God’s love for us, we can choose to disobey. As believers, the strap of His love holds, but Jesus desires us to walk in the fellowship of His love and joy. This is done by relying on Him and walking in obedience.
Conclusion
As believers in Christ’s finished work for us on the cross, gazing upon and beginning to grasp the magnitude of God’s love for us is a first step in prioritizing and nurturing our relationship with Him.
God’s love has an eternal quality which keeps it from being affected by anything of this world, seen or unseen.
Even when we were against God, His love for us moved Him to send His own Son to die in our place, rescuing us and making us whole.
As much as God the Father loves Jesus, Jesus loves us and we’re called to walk in the fellowship of His love.
Prayer
Lord, I’ll never fully comprehend the extent of Your love for me. It’s beyond my ability to comprehend. However, because You describe it in Your word, I believe it and want to walk in it. Though I don’t understand Your love, please make it real in my heart that it might shape every moment of my life. Amen.
[1] Ephesians 1:4-5
[2] Romans 8:29
[3] John 15:9
[4] Romans 6:1-2
For Further Reading on God’s Love
Why is Knowing God’s love Essential?
The Connection between Love and Joy
What Threatens us knowing God’s Love?
Experiencing the Freedom of God’s Love
Being Loved by God is our True Identity
Please Check out the new Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in the Midlands of South Carolina.
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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