FaithWear Ministry Scroll- February 1, 2026

What is love? We hear this word constantly, and many of us have even attempted to live it, yet without ever seeing the full picture of what love truly is. So let us discover it, that we may behold the kind of love that flows from the One who is love. For God is love (1 John 4:8), and out of His identity and fullness He envisioned us, formed us, and brought everything into being. Love is not something God does; it is who He is. Every act of creation, every breath given, every boundary set, and every promise spoken came from the overflow of His nature, for in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).

When Adam and Eve sinned, yes, God responded in a way we often perceive as punishment. Yes, He drove them out of the Garden. But even in judgment, love moved. Love covered them. Love clothed them, for the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them (Genesis 3:21). And even in the pain of childbirth, the pathway of conception carried the promise of Christ, for her offspring shall bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). Redemption was already woven into the consequence. Love was already preparing the way. What we call punishment was, in truth, protection — protection from eternal separation, protection from living forever in a fallen state, protection that made room for salvation to come.

You see, God chose Israel as His first begotten son on earth, for Israel is My firstborn son (Exodus 4:22). From the beginning, He set His affection on them, not because of their greatness, but because of His covenant love, for it was not because you were more in number… but it is because the Lord loves you (Deuteronomy 7:7–8). Their story is marked by seasons of obedience, rebellion, repentance, and realignment. Yet through every season — whether they walked closely with Him or wandered far from Him — God remained faithful. He provided for them, ministered to them, and continually gave instruction through His seers and prophets, for the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). His voice never fell silent.

When they sinned, He warned them. When justice approached, He warned them again — not to destroy them, but that they might repent and return, for I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked… turn back (Ezekiel 33:11). Even His judgments were invitations back to His heart. When they were carried into Babylon, He instructed them to seek peace in the land of their captivity — seek the welfare of the city… and pray to the Lord on its behalf (Jeremiah 29:7). And even in exile, He never ceased to minister to them. His prophets still spoke. His instructions still guided. His protection still covered those who heard and obeyed His voice, for I will be with you… I will not leave you or forsake you (Joshua 1:5).

Even after Israel had done all manner of wickedness and walked in every form of sin, God still declared His love for them. He promised that He would gather them back to Himself for His name’s sake, saying, It is not for your sake… but for the sake of My holy name (Ezekiel 36:22). He would save them and deliver them — not because they were righteous, but because I, the Lord, do not change (Malachi 3:6). His covenant was older than their rebellion. His love was deeper than their sin. His faithfulness was stronger than their failures. Over and over, God reminded them that He would act for the sake of His name, for the sake of His promise, and for the sake of His love — a love that refuses to let go, a love that gathers, a love that restores, a love that remembers even when His people forget.

God’s love is seen in countless ways. His love is eternal and unchanging, for His steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136:1). His love is patient and forbearing, for the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103:8). His love endures beyond our failures, for where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20). His love forgives and restores, for He does not deal with us according to our sins (Psalm 103:10). His love disciplines — not to destroy us, but to realign us, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves (Hebrews 12:6). His love upholds us in weakness, steadies us in confusion, and strengthens us in frailty, for My grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). His love protects, anchors, binds, and saves.

So what is love for us as ordinary people? Love is kind and patient, for love is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4). Love chooses gentleness when harshness feels justified. Love does not envy, does not boast, and does not demand its own way. Love is not easily angered, nor does it keep a record of wrongs, for love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). Love rejoices in truth, not in harm. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). Love is the posture that refuses retaliation, the strength that chooses mercy over pride, the humility that seeks restoration instead of victory. Love is the daily decision to reflect the heart of God in the small, unseen moments — in our words, in our attitudes, in our responses, and in the atmosphere we create around us.

Love is seeing through the flaws of another and being able to say, “It is okay — I see you.” Love remembers that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Love understands that we do not see or comprehend everything in one season. It trusts that one day, by God’s grace, each person will stand perfect in His sight, for He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6). So yes — love forbears, and love waits with patience. Love forgives without bitterness, saying, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). Love chooses His righteousness, His mercy, and His way. Love gives back what it has freely received, for freely you have received; freely give (Matthew 10:8). Love stands firm, ready to forgive, ready to understand, ready to extend the same grace that once rescued us.

Love is not condemnation but gentle in correction. For there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Love does not crush the wounded or expose the fragile. Love corrects the way God corrects — with tenderness, clarity, and truth. A bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench (Isaiah 42:3). Love restores without humiliating, guides without wounding, and speaks truth without destroying the heart it seeks to heal.

Love is not shaming but upholding. Shame tears down, but love lifts up. Shame exposes, but love covers, for love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Love strengthens the trembling, steadies the stumbling, and reminds the broken of who they are in God. Love upholds the weary the way God upholds us, for the Lord upholds all who are falling (Psalm 145:14).

Love is not controlling but freeing. Love does not manipulate, coerce, or demand. Love does not force its own way, for love does not insist on its own way (1 Corinthians 13:5). Love draws with kindness, not pressure, for I drew them with cords of kindness, with bands of love (Hosea 11:4). True love frees, heals, and empowers — it never imprisons.

Love is Home. For God is Home, and because He is Home, we are called to return Home. Jesus said, Abide in Me… abide in My love (John 15:4, 9). To abide is to dwell, to remain, to stay — to come Home. Love is the place where wandering ends. Love is the place where fear dissolves. Love is the place where identity is restored. Love is the place where the prodigal is embraced, for while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion (Luke 15:20). Love is the Father’s house — the place we were made for, the place we return to, the place we remain.

And this is why Christ came. All of this — every act of patience, every moment of mercy, every warning, every covering, every restoration — was leading to one ultimate revelation: Love Himself would come. Love Himself would walk among us. Love Himself would die for us. For God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus did not wait for us to be righteous. He came while we were broken, blind, wandering, resisting, and unworthy. This is the highest revelation of love — that Love Himself laid down His life for the unlovely (John 15:13). The cross is the architecture of love made visible. The cross is the fullness of God’s heart revealed. The cross is Home opened to us again.

WHO GOD IS — A FAITHWEAR IDENTITY DECLARATION

God is love.
God is home.
God is faithful.
God is merciful.
God is gracious.
God is holy.
God is just.
God is patient.
God is shepherd.
God is father.
God is redeemer.
God is savior.
God is king.
God is the beginning and the end.
God is the One who was, who is, and who is to come.

This is the God we love.
This is the God we serve.
This is the God we return home to.

CONCLUSION — THE UNITY OF LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY

Love is embodied through grace and mercy. Grace is love extended; mercy is love restraining; and love is the source from which both flow. Without grace, love would not reach us. Without mercy, love would not cover us. Without love, neither grace nor mercy would exist at all. These three are not separate movements but one continuous expression of God’s heart. Love gives, grace lifts, mercy restores — and together they reveal the fullness of who God is. When one is missing, love is incomplete; but when all three move as one, the heart of the Father is made visible, and the way home becomes clear.

Benediction

May the God who is love draw you back into His heart. May His kindness lead you to repentance. May His mercy cover every place of shame. May His grace strengthen every place of weakness. May His discipline restore every place of wandering. May His presence become your home. And may you abide in His love, walk in His love, and reflect His love until the day you stand perfect and complete in Christ. Amen.