THE LOVE OF GOD
The love of God for the world is very profound. Bible says that even when we were yet sinners, God still loved us and gave out His son to die for mankind (Romans 5:8). This means that the whole world has been saved, however, man has to make a personal decision to accept Jesus as his/her personal savior before the salvation process can be completed. God has already done His part of the deal but man has to conclude the deal (John 3:16). Getting saved by God is a privilege which unlock mysteries and prosperity for the child of God.
Some preachers in the world today have presented God as a God of judgment who punishes believers irrespective of the kind of sin committed. As a result, unbelievers assume that they are better off not becoming Christians maybe because of the gravity of their past sins and the sins they are likely to commit when they become Christians. The truth is this, even when we were yet sinners, God loved us. How much more would God not love us when become His children? It is true that God chastises His children sometimes. However, let us not forget that God is full of mercy and has made provision for our past, current and future sins through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Also our Father should not be seen as one who is looking out for disobedient children to punish them severely. If this is the situation, does that mean that we should continue in sin? Roman 6:1 answers the question. We can’t continue in sin because grace abounds. If we love God in return, we will not continue in sin.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love (John 15:9). It is important to walk in the love of God as a child of God because Jesus Christ admonished us to do so. Secondly, in John 13:34, Jesus gave a new commandment to us, that is, “to love one another”. If we love each other, we express one of the characters of God and the world becomes a better place to live in. If one loves his/her neighbor and people around, one will find it unnecessary to hurt others. Can we imagine a world where there is no bitterness but love permeating the fabric of society? And now abideth faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Chorinthians 13:13).
Matthew 7: 9 states that “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” We receive whatever we ask from God because of His love and character. Whatever our challenges are, God is ever ready to hear our prayer and answer because of His love for us. Our responsibility is to be obedient to His word.
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