JQ is clearly a man who has fallen in love. He writes from a point of view of knowing, deep down, how, why and how much he is loved by God. And so in reading this book you will discover, or rediscover, exactly what it means to be loved by God.
It is solid Biblical teaching, drawing on wider Bible references, hinged on the phrase in 1 John 4:8 “…God is love.” If that is what God is, then it is key for us to understand it.
Initially the book walks the reader gently through that lovely passage in 1 Corinthians 13:4- 8 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (NIV).
A chapter on each is much more than a Bible study, it is a deep dive into what each phrase really means and how it can be applied. Throughout there are regular helpful opportunities to pause for reflection, to consider what it means to you personally.
The book then moves on to a more practical application, asking some challenging questions of the reader like “What is the absence of love?”, “How do you love the person who hurt you?” and “How do we love Jesus”.
And through the book, as we begin to get a true understanding of how we are loved, it prepares us to display that same love to others, and follow that command to love others, summed up so well in the words of Ephesians 5:1 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Meaningless Without Love, by JQ Botes, is available here.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author, but was under no pressure to provide a favourable review.
