04/18/2026
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Saturday, April 18th 2026
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc DSc DD
THE ESSENCE OF DIVINE LOVE
..he that hath seen me hath seen the Father… (John 14:9).
People have used the word “love” for generations without capturing or understanding the true essence of its meaning. Even the Greek word “agape,” which is one of the translations of the word love, was known before Christ came. Yet, human definitions never captured the essence of divine love.
The Lord Jesus gave meaning to love. When you saw Him, you saw Love in action. He’s the manifestation of God’s love. The Bible says, “...God is love” (1 John 4:8). Love was tabernacled in human flesh in Jesus Christ. When He preached in the temple, as Luke 4:16-21 tells us, it was God’s love in action.
He read from the scroll of Isaiah and declared, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears,” revealing His mission to bring salvation, healing, and love into the world. Then He acted it. He healed the sick, opened blind eyes, fed the multitude, and raised the dead. That was God’s love in display.
Matthew 14:14 says, “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” His compassion drove Him to heal the sick, showing that love and mercy were at the very heart of His ministry.
Even when He drove out the money changers from the temple (read John 2:13-17), that act wasn’t anger but righteous love. His zeal was rooted in love for His Father’s house. When He rebuked Herod as a fox in Luke 13:32, it was a bold expression of truth and love. He was calling out wickedness with righteous authority.
Finally, His lamentation over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 shows His deep love and longing for the salvation of His people, “O Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” These acts and words reveal that the life of the Master was a perfect manifestation of divine love.
Love is not defined by human sentiment, emotion, weakness, or permissiveness. Love is the person of Jesus Christ revealed to us. He was fully God and fully man. The more you know Him through the Word and by the Spirit, the clearer your understanding of love. And as you walk in His nature, you become the manifestation of God’s love to your world.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for sending Jesus as the full expression of your unfailing love. His life in me is the life of love. I walk in the light of His Word and express His character; through me, many experience your love, compassion, grace, and transforming power, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
1 John 4:9 KJV
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
John 13:34 KJV
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 15:12-13 KJV
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
l*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Luke 17:1-19 & 1 Samuel 3-7
2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Romans 12:1-8 & Psalm 119:145-160
