“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (I John 3:1).
In the world around us, people are loved on the basis of their performance or what can be gained from them. Many people today say “We love you” to those they feel have impressed them in one way or the other. When people please us or stimulate us and we want to appreciate what they do, we use the term “love” to describe our response. But thanks be to God that His love for us is not based on our performance! Prophet Isaiah was so passionate about the revelation of this special love lavished on us that he exclaimed thus; “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6).
The statement of Apostle Paul to the Romans is also worth considering. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Roman 5:6-8). The picture being painted about God’s sacrificial love for us is far from being a result of our good deeds or performance. Christ was not responding to something good in our performance when He was crushed for our sins, when He took all our pains and died for us. The verses use the words “powerless,” “ungodly,” and “sinners” to describe us. Christ died for people like this, not for people who look like they have it all together. Nothing made us attractive to God! But He still showers us with His love.
Beloved brethren, we were despicable to God. But despite our problems it was God’s pleasure to go the extra kilometres to help us by satisfying us with His mercy. This is the result of His sovereign choice. God’s love has nothing to do with our goodness; God’s love has nothing to do with our performance.
Have you allowed the world’s view of love to colour your vision of God? Have you been struggling, fearing that your poor performance as a Christian will cause God to quit loving you? God’s love for you cannot fail but He hates the sin in you. Are you afraid that the difficulty of your circumstances shows that God does not love you? Have personal trials and tragedies made you doubt God’s love, strength, and faithfulness? Consider God’s word and assurance again. Meditate on them and discover the special package He has for you. The Psalmist says: “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.” (Psalm 107:43). Be wise today. Heed these things. Consider God’s great love.
If any of these is foreign to you, and you are yet to experience God’s love, the invitation is open to you. Give Him a trial. Millions did and have not regretted the plung they made. Believe in Him, ask Him to be your Saviour and Lord, repent and turn to Him, and He will welcome you into His loving arms. Consider the great love of the Lord today and respond.
Have a meaningful week as you keep company with the One that has demonstrated the greatest love to man!
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
S. Igein Isemede.