THE FATHER'S LOVE IN ACTION

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," JOH 3:16.

The compass of the Father's love was no less than the world; His gift was not limited to a certain individual or group. The scope of His love encompassed the whole world; His loved ones are in every part of the globe.

The object was to deliver His Son's bride from going down into the pit, and the result was no less than finding a ransom. What is the ransom? The perfect obedience and the blood of His own Son was the ransom.

Love is measured by actions. A man can tell his wife how much he loves her, but if his actions do not correspond, he might as well save his breath.

It would be a waste of time and energy to tell you how much God, the Father, loves His people if He had not demonstrated it with His actions. Jesus illustrates and teaches us how our actions demonstrate our love. The act of giving His Son established and demonstrated the love of God, the Father.

Mary was in Simon's house; Simon was condemning her by saying that if Jesus was a prophet, He'd know Mary was a sinner.

Jesus replied in LUK 7:44-47, "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."

How much did the Father love his church? How much did the Father love the bride of Christ to give such a price? Jesus points out that the action—what is done—establishes how great that love is.

How great is the Father's love? Jesus teaches us that the more one does to reveal his love, the greater the demonstrated love.

By the nature of the Father's gift of His "...only begotten Son," in whom He was well pleased, He demonstrated not only His character of love, but the extent of the love He had for WHOM? For rebelling, perishing enemies.

Does this make us a little more tolerant of those who rise up against us? We are created in the image of God. How much do we demonstrate by our actions that we in fact love God?

He gave His own Son for rebelling, perishing enemies; for people He could have justly condemned to hell forever, but by His actions He demonstrated His love.

Do our actions reveal love or criticism? Are we kind to our fellow man? Where is our love towards others?

Once again, we are cast into a posture of thanksgiving and adoration to our marvelous Saviour who has loved us without measure, in such a  perfect example of love in action.

Amen.