God’s Demonstrated Love

Malachi 1:2; Romans 5:8

God loves you today!!!

Do you know how many times in sermons, lessons, counseling, and witnessing I have said this? It is written on many billboards, in many books, and gospel tracts. It appears in many cards and it seems that when no other words or phrases will do, God loves you is our go to phrase. Sometimes people say it and hear it so much that it seems to lose its punch. This is exactly what the devil wants to happen! He wants to take one of God’s strongest affections and greatest quality of his character to make it common as though it is just another Christian catch phrase.

Unfortunately this was the attitude of the people in Malachi’s day. God said “I have loved you.” You would think that his people would respond with joy, adoration, and thanksgiving. But their response was one that was apathetic and indifferent. “In what way have you loved us?” This was one of the saddest states of decline in all of OT Israel and it came at a time right before God would be silent for over 400 years.

Somehow in our culture the amount of love a person has for another is weighed out in gifting. Commercialized love has spoiled many in thinking that if you love me you will buy me that

· Diamond ring

· Pearl necklace

· New Truck or SUV

· Nice vacation or cruise

· And many other material things

But true love is not about giving things as much as it is about giving oneself to the one you love.

In the old Anglican wedding ceremony there is a line in the vows that says With my body I worship thee. This does not mean that a husband or a wife worship one another in the sense of which we worship God. Only he is worthy of that true worship. But what is does mean is that true love is about losing yourself in another by giving ones self to another. In the case of marriage, two become one flesh.

I believe this is why God was silent after this last message to Israel for over 400 years. God was saying I am not going to tell you, I am going to show you! God gave himself to Israel by taking upon flesh and dying for the ones he loved. All of mankind.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Through accepting Jesus’ death on the cross man is saved. It is then that God joins himself to man by coming and dwelling in man through the Holy Spirit. This brings about an union and communion with God that we demonstrate on a regular basis in we call Communion or as the early church called The Love feast.

Yes the old Anglican service had it right. With our body we worship the Lord. That is the true symbol of love between us and God, because we are united with his body and he dwells within ours. It is an union that not even the devil can put asunder.

God’s love is felt! That’s just how close he is. But you can hear him say it if you listen to him closely. He doesn’t always shout it, but he whispers it. “I have loved you.” What should our response be? I know Lord, and I love you too!

Don’t ever think that God doesn’t love you!!! Give no place to the devil! Don’t let that liar deceive you from enjoying the most satisfying and gratifying of all the relationships that God has ever given to man!

Pastor Robby