Our topic for this month is Love and we are focusing our attention on the love of God for mankind, as recorded in (Heb10:1-18).
The very nature of God is love. Every part of scripture attests to the fact that God loves us immeasurably.
Right from the time pf creation, the love of God for mankind moved him to create good things for our well-being. Gen1:12&18b&25b etc
Out of love He created us in His own likeness, though man sinned and was banished from His presence man was not kept out of the loving heart of our God. He was burdened by the love He had for mankind and by the way man had gone astray in sinfulness that he sent His own dear son Jesus Christ to come and be the channel for our reconciliation and salvation. Jesus out of love for His father and for mankind accepted to do the will of God to come and die so that we could be saved…“Then I said “here I am to do your will O God just as it is written of me in the book of the law.”(Hebrews 10:7)
With all said above and many more, we are convinced of God’s love for us. We challenge ourselves now with these questions;
1) How has our response to this love been?
2) Have we some times considered it all done and we need not do anything as Christians?
3) Have we been appreciative of God’s love by showing our love for the things of God and the kingdom?
We have a duty to love as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The question of love is not optional for a Christian but obligatory and should be a way of life.
Jesus our role model summed up the commandments into two, Love for God and Love for mankind meaning we have no choice but to live in love.
The things God has given to us out of love are priceless, we ought to show our gratitude to Him by loving God and working according to His will, and also loving the people God created.
Some points to guide us succeed in our duty to love include;
1) We should bear in mind that human beings may not always reciprocate our love. Nevertheless, God loves us always so we have a duty to show love always love others.
2) Sometimes acts done out of love can be misjudged. It shouldn’t discourage us from carrying out our duty of love.
3) We would have to show love even to those who intentionally hurt us. Jesus showed us this example by praying on the cross for God to forgive those who crucified Him.(Luke 23:44)
4) Our love for God has to be reflected in our love for other people. For Jesus said, whatever you do to the least of these ones you do unto me.(Matthew 25:40)
5) Our love must be impartial
6) Our love must be sacrificial.
In order that we stay conscious of our duty as Christians, we can try evaluating ourselves each day on acts of love and kindness shown for that day. For we cannot assess our love for God if men can’t feel that love. The bible says “If we say we love God yet hate our sisters and brothers we are liars, for people cannot love God whom they have not seen if they do not love their brothers and sisters whom they have seen? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers”. (1 John 4:11,20 and 21).
Amen!