This year I've decided to do my scripture study a little different. Rather than read a chapter or two I've decided to ponder a topic that I wish to understand better and focus my study from a this perspective. In addition to this, I am enrolled in an LDS Perspectives within Psychology course that takes topics of importance to people of faith and examines them from several psychological perspectives in addition to a gospel context.
John 3:16- God's love is most clearly seen in the gift of His son.
John 15:9- Christ's love for us leads us to better understand the Father's love for us
1 John 3:1- When we better understand God's love for us, it better motivates our actions
1 John 3:20- God is greater than our heart (see the whole chapter)
1 John 4:8-11- God can be defined as love. God is love
2 Nephi 1:15- We can be encircled by the arms of His love
This new approach has brought me to the understanding that while there is much I do know, there are many things I have yet to understand. At times like this it is easy to feel unsettled, and I believe such discomfort can be for our benefit if it motivates us to seek greater truth. For me that is exactly what this has done. It was in this searching that I was reminded of this scripture that puts all faith-bearing truth seekers questions into perspective.
"Knowest thou the condescension of God?"
"And I said unto him. I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
1 Nephi 11:16-17
I will be the first to admit that there is much I do not know. But if I had to choose one thing to know it would be to know that God loves His children. This truth (when we come to know it) will guide our pursuit of truth. From this singular truth springs the purpose of life, the plan that makes that purpose possible and perhaps most importantly the greatest indicator of that love: The Atonement of Jesus Christ.
It is one of my resolutions in 2015 to allow this truth to better guide my day-to-day actions, my thoughts and considerations and my further understanding of truth.
Here are some additional scriptures I came across about God's love for his children
Jeremiah 31:3- God loves with an everlasting loveJohn 3:16- God's love is most clearly seen in the gift of His son.
John 15:9- Christ's love for us leads us to better understand the Father's love for us
1 John 3:1- When we better understand God's love for us, it better motivates our actions
1 John 3:20- God is greater than our heart (see the whole chapter)
1 John 4:8-11- God can be defined as love. God is love
2 Nephi 1:15- We can be encircled by the arms of His love
