God’s great love (bag. 9)

Have we ever stopped for a moment and pondered, how much God’s love for us? Since we were born, God has bestowed His blessings without us asking. He gives us the air to breathe, a healthy body, and reason to think. He provides food for us to eat, water for us to drink, and a place to live for us to take shelter.

Every day, we live in an abundance of God’s love. Since the rising of the sun until we fell asleep at night, His pleasure never stopped flowing. God takes care of us, gives fortune, forgives our sins, even when we neglect and often forget Him.

Even when we make mistakes, God does not immediately punish us. He gave us the opportunity to repent. He closed our disgrace, giving us time to improve ourselves, and maintain the food. God said,

And you prepare God’s grace, don’t count it, because God is forgiven.

“And if you calculate God’s blessings, surely you will not be able to calculate it. Indeed, Allah is truly a forgiving again.” [1]

God’s love is so broad, covering each of our steps, even when we often forget Him. He gives us life, keeps us in sleep, and opens the door to repentance every time we stumble into sin. So many favors he gave, even though we often neglect to be grateful.

How do we return God’s love?

So great is God’s love, but the question: how do we reply? Of course we are not possible to repay all the goodness of God in an equal manner, but there is a way that we can show our gratitude and love for Him.

Increase faith and piety

The best way to repay God’s love is to believe and fear. God does not ask us to give His interests with wealth or something difficult, but it is enough to obey Him. God said,

Hey, those who believe, fear God

“O you who believe! Fear God is truly afraid of Him and don’t die except in a Muslim country.” [2]

Grateful for the heart, oral, and action

Be grateful not just to say it “Give thanks”; But also realizing in the heart that all favors come from God, then use it on the right path. Allah said,

And if your master, you won’t be grateful, and you don’t not believe it.

“And (remember) when your master tells,” indeed, if you are grateful, I will add you. But if you deny it (my help), then my torture is very heavy. ” [3]

True gratitude is to use the blessings to approach God. If given health, use for worship. If given knowledge, spread for good. If given wealth, use to help others.

Do orders and avoid the prohibition

God does not ask for much of us, just so that we obey Him. Prayers, fasting, zakat, and other pious charity are the way we show gratitude for His blessings. Allah said,

God blesses justice, kindness, and Eti

“Indeed, God has ordered (you) to do good and do good, to help relatives, and forbid (commit) acts of crime, crime, and hostility. He teaches you so you can learn.” [4]

God also said,

And the messenger did not take you

“What the messenger gives you, then accepts it. And what he forbids, then leave it. And fear God. Indeed, God is very punished.” [5]

Love God more than everything

God’s love for us is so great, so we should love Him more than anything. Love to God means we prioritize Him in everything. Allah said,

And from people who take from without people who love them as the love of God and those who believe in God’s greatest love, and if he does not see it torture is that God’s power is everything, and that God is difficulty

“And among humans there are those who worship the match other than Allah; they love him as they love God. As for those who believe, his love is very great to God. If those who are wrongdoing, when they see the punishment (on the Day of Judgment), that the power is entirely belonging to God and that God is very heavy in His punishment.” [6]

A form of love for God can show us by increasing memory, prayer, reciting the Qur’an, and prioritizing his commands in our lives.

Spreading good with each other

God loves us, so we must spread that love to others. Helping each other, serving orphans, and doing good to families and neighbors is the way we pay back God’s love by spreading it to his creatures. God said,

And they work together with truth and piety, and do not work together with sin and dowry, and fear God, that God is the most severe punishment

“And help you in (doing) good and piety, and not help in sin and hostility. Fear God; [7]

Rasulullah (May Winged Peace) said,

God is in my eyes, what is in the eyes of his brother

“God will always help his servants, as long as he helps his brother.” [8]

The more we do good to others, the more love of God that we will feel in our lives.

Be patient in the test and don’t think badly to God

God tested His servant not because of hate, but because of His love. Sometimes, disaster is God’s way of removing our sins and raising our degree. Rasulullah ﷺ said,

Anyone who wants God is good for him

“Anyone who wants to be good by God, then he will test it.” [9]

When facing a test, do not prejudice to God. Rest assured that behind every trial, there is wisdom that we do not understand. If we remain patient and trust, God will change difficulties with ease.

Will never be able to reply

We will never be able to repay God’s love worth it, but we can show our gratitude with faith, pious, carry out His commands, love Him, and spread goodness to others. Let’s reply by getting closer to Him and trying to be a better servant every day. May Allah keep our hearts in faith, guide our steps towards goodness, and allow us to feel the beauty of His love in the world and in the hereafter. Amen.

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Written in Jember, 3 Ramadan 1446/2 March 2025

Writer: Gazzeta Raka Putra Setyawan

Article Muslim.or.id

Footnote:

[1] QS. An-Nahl: 18

[2] QS. Ali Imran: 102

[3] QS. Ibrahim: 7

[4] QS. An-Nahl: 90

[5] QS. Al-Hasyr: 7

[6] QS. Al-Baqarar: 165

[7] QS. Al-Ma’idah: 2

[8] O’clock. Muslim

[9] O’clock. Bukhari