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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5.6-8; all emphasis mine above and below, jb).
Love spoken is a token at best; Love shown is a deed greatly blest! God loves us, but He does far more than just speak the words; He demonstrates His love. It is interesting that the tense of the verb “demonstrates” is in the present tense while the thing done (the giving of His Son) is in the past. The gift was a “once for all” time gift, but the attitude of God is forever. He did not just love us yesterday: He loves us today, tomorrow, and forever. Furthermore, He demonstrates (present tense) that love for us.
Who does not know what John 3:16 said? It is arguably the best known verse of scripture in the entire Bible. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16). He demonstrates His love. Again Paul writes: “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3.3-7). God demonstrates His love.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14.15). John followed up by saying, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” (1 John 3.23). The love we are to have for Christ is a love which must be continually demonstrated. Just as God’s love is a demonstrable trait, so is our love for Him and for one another to be demonstrated in all that we say and do. John put this principle in a negative sense by writing, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4.29). Love that is not demonstrated is not love at all. Again John wrote, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3.17). John’s question is rhetorical; it is obvious that love that will not manifest itself in tangible deeds is not the same type of love that God has; it is not the “love of God.”
Looking back at the focus text, note that “…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Do you realize that this was the only condition in which Christ could die for us! Had He waited until we were without sin, He would still be waiting. The only time at which redemption could occur was “while we were still sinners. This realization puts a whole new light on the quality of love which God has for us. His love did not demand a response before it was manifested; it did not even demand a promised response; His love was truly unconditional!
When we learn to love as God loves, we can become more like Him; to the extent that we do not know God’s character, to that extent it is impossible for us to become like Him. One trait that we have discovered is that His love is demonstrated, and is not merely a verbal love! So must ours be!
Questions:
1. What was man’s condition spiritually when Christ died for him? Why was he in that condition?
2. Read 1 John 3.18. “How” are we to love?
3.What is unconditional love? What is the perfect example of unconditional love?
4. Read Matthew 7.21. Why is it necessary to demonstrate our love for God?
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