“I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3

You may have heard or read about “love language.” It is how we express our love to others. Some use verbal expressions to demonstrate their love and some express their love through actions. Relationship experts say it is beneficial to know yours and your partner’s love language because it aids with communication in the relationship. When you both know and understand how love is being expressed, there is no misunderstanding.

Likewise, God has a love language. As a matter of fact, God’s language is love because He is love. Since, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), we need to understand that everything He does flows from love. He blesses and disciplines us because He loves us. “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Proverbs 3:11-12.  If we do not understand God’s love language, a breakdown in communication in our relationship with God occurs and we miss opportunities to change.

God rebukes us with such tenderness and love; and even in the rebuke, He gives us hope and reminds us of His promises. Therefore, from time to time, we misunderstand His loving rebuke and we continue to think we are okay, or we think we have not done anything wrong, and we subsequently continue in our ways. When God sent Prophet Nathan to rebuke King David of his sin with Bathsheba, David thought Nathan was telling him about some other person. He did not “see” himself in that story. It wasn’t until the Prophet disclosed the full details of David’s sin that he “saw” and acknowledged his sin. 2 Samuel 12:1-13.

Today, we have received the Spirit of truth. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:13.  The truth He leads and guides us in is God’s Word. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17. Because He comes from God, He uses God’s love language to love us into changing. Jeremiah 31:3.

Whenever the Holy Spirit speaks, we must allow the Word to search our hearts and reveal what we cannot see. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 1 Timothy 3:15-17. Many times we are like David we think we are listening to a story about someone else, when God is trying to love us into changing. I especially urge pastors and preachers to “hear” your messages. God is not only giving you a Word to preach or teach, but that Word is also to you. Paul said, “…so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:26-2.

To obtain God’s promises, it is crucial that we understand His love language, especially when He is correcting us. As a result, when we understand He is lovingly saying change your ways, we will hear and obey. “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake.” Isaiah 55:3