March
20, 2003
GOD'S
LOVE IN US
"I
have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that
the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in
them" (John 17:26, NKJV).
Jesus
became an intimate friend to His disciples. The disciples
viewed Him as the Messiah, "We have come to believe and
know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"
(John 6:69). In His life, words and actions, Jesus revealed
to them the Fathers love for all mankind. The Father "loved
the world so much that He gave His only Son, that everyone
who has faith in Him may not die but have eternal life. It
was not to judge the world that God sent His Son into the
world, but that through Him the world might be saved"
(John 3:16, 17, NEB).
Jesus
has revealed to us, in many ways, the character, values, actions
and love of the Father to us. "You
have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes
His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on
the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love
you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors
do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do
you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do
so?" "If you forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive
men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses." "If you then -- know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who
is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore,
whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this
is the Law and the Prophets." " 'You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and
the Prophets" (Matthew 5:43-47; 6:14, 15; 7:11,
12; 22:37-40).
Christ's
life on earth was a medley of God's expressions of love, acceptance,
compassion, forgiveness, healing, admonition and training
in doing what is right. Jesus also taught that the love of
God that was in Him may also be in us, "that
the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in
them."
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