If love is God’s eternal nature, then it makes sense that creation itself was born out of love. But grab hold of this: God didn’t create out of necessity—as though He were lonely or lacking something. Instead God said,
“Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26)
We’re not told who the “us” is but as God’s story unfolds, God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God didn’t create from a place of need but from a place of desire, from God’s lavish love. And in that overflowing love, God chose to invite us into a relationship that’s not one-sided, it’s the mutuality of love.
This is where freedom re-enters the picture. From God’s freedom to create in love to extending freedom to humanity. True love isn’t coerced, for the moment it’s forced, it’s not love. And so God, in His love, gave humanity the real freedom to respond—or not respond—to Him.
Look at it like this:
God initiates love.
God invites humanity to RSVP to that love.
The relationship only reaches its fullness when there’s a response.
That doesn’t mean God’s love is incomplete without us. God is already whole in Himself. But it does mean that God’s love is not content to remain within Himself—it presses outward, seeking fellowship with creation.
This is why the Bible doesn’t simply describe God as loving in a static sense, but shows us God acting in love—calling, covenanting, forgiving, restoring, indwelling. And in response, humanity is called to love God with heart, soul, strength and mind. (Luke 10:27)
The point is this: love as God’s nature finds its true expression in mutuality. A God who is love does not dominate or manipulate His creatures into compliance. He invites us into communion. He waits for our answer, but there’s a barrier that gets in the way.
We’ll reflect upon that next time.