Known and Shown: Reflecting God's Love

Have you ever wanted to see someone so badly that you’d do anything for a glimpse? Writer Philip Ryken once took his son to watch Michael Jordan play his final basketball game. He recalls, “All we wanted to see was Michael. From the moment he stepped into Philadelphia’s First Union Center, every eye was on him—shooting, stretching, even sitting on the bench.” The air buzzed with anticipation, with the crowd leaning forward, desperate to catch greatness before it was gone. We’ve all had moments like that, haven’t we? Waiting for someone larger than life to appear.

Now imagine that longing magnified a thousand times, playing out on a rugged mountain in the wilderness. In Exodus 33:18, Moses pleads with God, “Show me your glory.” He had been conversing with God in the tent of meeting, but he craved more—a fuller glimpse of God’s majesty. God agrees, but with a caveat: no human can withstand the full sight of His glory. So He tucks Moses in a rock’s crevice, covers him as He passes by, and allows him to peek at His back (Exodus 33:21-23). What Moses hears in that moment, recorded in Exodus 34:6-7, paints a stunning picture of God: “The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love… forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin, but He will not leave the guilty unpunished…”
This isn’t a distant, thundering deity. He’s relational, steadfast, holy—not just powerful, but personal. And He desires us to know Him, not merely know about Him. On Sunday, we will explore two passages that reveal His character and challenge us to reflect on His love in a world that desperately needs it.

God’s Character in Action (Psalm 103:8-12)
Fast forward from the mountain to the Psalms, where David picks up the same thread. In Psalm 103:8, he writes, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.” Does that sound familiar? It echoes Exodus 34:6, but David isn't just quoting—he’s singing from the scars of his own life. Look at verses 9-10: “He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities.” This is personal. David knew failure—adultery, murder, a trail of brokenness—yet he also knew a God who didn’t write him off.
God’s character isn’t static; it moves, acts, and restores. Verse 9 repeats, “He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.” He’s not the grudge-holding type. Instead, He lifts the weight of our failures, forgiving us again and again. The proof? Jesus. Colossians 2:14 says He “erased the certificate of debt… nailing it to the cross.” And Psalm 103:12 drives it home: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” East and west never meet—our guilt and shame are gone, buried.

David adds in verse 11, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him.” This isn’t shallow mercy; it’s boundless. God chooses restoration over retribution, rebuilding what we break. In Christ, He doesn’t merely patch us up—He makes us new (2 Corinthians 5:17). That’s a love that changes everything.

God’s Character Embodied (1 John 4:7-9)
Now let’s turn to 1 John 4:7-9, where God’s love becomes tangible. Verse 8 strikes at the heart: “God is love.” It's not just that He loves—love is His very essence. This is the thread connecting Exodus 34’s “abounding in faithful love” to Psalm 103’s mercy that lifts sin. How do we know? Verse 9 states: “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” Jesus embodies the definition—unconditional, sacrificial, authentic.

Consider this: God didn’t wait for us to get it together. He acted, sending His Son to us. Why? “So that we might live through Him.” This love has a purpose—it restores in Psalm 103, and here it offers eternal life. Even on the cross, Jesus demonstrates it—telling the thief beside Him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). That’s love in action, not inaction.

Verse 7 states, “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” It serves as a test: if we experience this love, we cannot remain indifferent. Encountering Jesus—His life, His sacrifice—transforms us. Love is not optional; it is evidence that we know Him. So, who in your life might benefit from this? A kind word, a helping hand, a prayer?

Reflecting the God We Know
We’re called to reflect this character in a fractured world. If we know God—compassionate, forgiving, love itself—we will embody it. 1 John 4:7 connects it to our lives: “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” It’s not just a pleasant idea—it’s a sign of transformation. When we forgive as expressed in Psalm 103, and when we love as Jesus did, we reveal to the world the God we’ve encountered.

Will you live this out? In a culture that is quick to judge and slow to heal, we can be different—patient, generous, and loving, even toward the unlovable. We are not just recipients of God’s love; we are ambassadors of it. So this week, choose one person—someone who is difficult to love—and reflect His character. A small step can shine His light brighter than you think.

Those Serving
CALL TO WORSHIP/PRAYER
Boyd Hastings
SONG LEADER
Russ Robins
LEAD LORD'S SUPPER
Mark Ringle
 ASSIST LORD’S SUPPER
Matthew Barnhart
Benjamin Baker
Drew Triplett
Bob Hoopes
SCRIPTURE READING
Daniel Spargo
John 15:4-5
PREACHING
Matthew Allen
CLOSING PRAYER
Jim Grushon
CLOSING COMMENTS
Rich Walker
WELCOME CENTER
Jim Grushon // Pam Grushon
USHERS
Jason Schofield // Billy Robbins
COMMUNION PREP
Vicki Mullins
CLOSING THE BUILDING
Richard Jacobs