The apostle of love, by inspiration, marveled, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). God’s love is so great that He gave His own Son so that we could be His children. John went on to write that this sacrificial love of Jesus Christ continues in each of us loving our brothers and sisters in Christ:
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:9-12).
Love is absolutely necessary for us if we are to be God’s people. A car may have an efficiently-designed engine that can turn out tremendous horsepower, but if it does not have oil, then the results will be disastrous. Likewise, we can have very talented people, who possess tremendous knowledge, working in well-designed programs in the Lord’s church, but if there is no love, then failure will follow. Consider the Father’s love for us and how it translates to our love for one another.
Discipline – Proverbs 3:12 says, “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Correction is an essential part of loving a child. There are no doubt cases of fathers who abuse children, just as there have been abuses of churches in their treatment of members. How should we react to this? When a good father hears of child abuse, he commits himself to lovingly disciplining his children, not allowing them to do whatever they wish. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” Hebrews 12:11). Congregations where members are allowed to live in sin without correction are not loving the souls of individuals with the long-term results of eternity as the emphasis (1 Cor. 5:1-5).
Forgiveness – After a statement on how far God has removed our transgressions, Psalm 103:13 says, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” Our heavenly Father is merciful. He wants to see us be reconciled to Him; He is pictured as the father who runs to meet the son who has come back home, takes the son in his arms and kisses him (Luke 15:20). As brothers and sisters in Christ, we should desire reconciliation with each other (Matt. 18:15-20). We have too many important tasks to accomplish for the Lord to remain at odds with one another.
Encouragement – Paul wrote, “as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,” (1 Thess. 2:11). Paul was like an encouraging father to his converts (1 Cor. 4:14-15; 2 Cor. 12:14). Our Father in heaven has given us His word to build us up (Acts 20:32). Brothers and sisters in Christ should encourage one another daily to be faithful (Heb. 3:13; 13:22). Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Cor. 8:1). As we grow in knowledge of the Lord, we should help others grow by building them up in the faith.
Take some time this week to consider God’s word. Thus, you can be filled with the Father’s love for you, and let His love empower you to love in the true, biblical sense — through discipline, forgiveness, and encouragement of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
-Mark Day
Leave a Reply