The Compassionate Love of God Gives Confidence to HIS Children

Lent is the time to prepare and examine ourselves by spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, meditating on the Word of God and observing other rituals as we are going to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday days to come. Today is 2nd Sunday of Lent, in which we are going to meditate on the Compassionate love of God which He demonstrated in and through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I want that Lent must be a time for us as believers to revive and restore our relationship with God.   

At present, there is moral corruption and spiritual decay everywhere, as the prophets of the Old Testament had exposed to HIS people in Israel. We also hear news of persecution through social media which troubles our hearts and makes us to be afraid. In such time, it is more appropriate for us as believers to focus on the love of God and draw strength and confidence in order to stand firm for our faith in Jesus Christ. I think it is time to prepare ourselves not only just for what we are going to celebrate, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but to face the worse time of persecution. 

I would like to share with you how the Compassionate Love of God gives Confidence to HIS children. 

The Compassionate Love of God gives Confidence to HIS children because it restores us (Hosea 14:1-8). The time of Hosea the prophet, the whole nation of Israel was divided into two and they had become disloyal to the Lord because of Idolatry. They have forgotten the love of God through which God had brought them out of Egypt and had inherited the land. Hosea the prophet tells us the condition of Israel in vs. 1-3 as he has said that they had stumbled because of iniquity, had gone far from the Lord, had put their trust in Assyria or their military power and had made idols for worship. In such time of iniquity, Hosea the prophet reminded Israel the compassionate love of God. If they return to the Lord with repentance, God will heal their apostasy, love them freely (vs. 4). He will be like the dew to Israel which refreshes, restores and revives the souls (vs. 5-7).  Our sin never hinders or exhausts him to love us. HIS compassionate love overcomes every iniquity and restores us spiritually. Therefore Let us repent from our sin today. 

The Compassionate Love of God gives Confidence to HIS children because it removes our sins (Psalm 103:8-14) King David sings the song exalting HIS steadfast love which had removed his transgression. David had experienced the gravity of sin, while he was tempted and committed adultery (2 Sam. 11:1-4); severity of judgement, while the child born from Bathsheba died (2 Sam. 12:15-23) and also experienced the joy of forgiveness. This Psalm comes out of such experience and David tells us that God doesn't deal with us according to our sins. We all thank the Lord for what HE does for us, but during the days of Lent we should thank HIM for what HE doesn't do for us. If HE condemns us and puts us eternally in Hell, it would be just. But He didn't do it. Instead of it, HE pours out HIS steadfast love on us and removes our transgressions from us (vs. 11). Therefore let us fear HIM today.

The Compassionate Love of God gives Confidence to HIS children because it rewards us with eternal security (Romans 8:31-39). Apostle Paul who used to persecute Christians and even he was involved in the murder of Stephen, also had experienced the compassionate love of God. He was not even saved by the Lord, but he became the reason of salvation to many. The history of the Church, witnesses many stories that through the epistle of Paul many people have found Christ; and even God used them to revive and to reform the spiritual condition of the Church. Such people like Saint Augustine, Martin Luther and John Wesley are a few of them. Paul himself had witnessed saying, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15). Apostle Paul knew that he had done nothing to be saved by Christ, even he tried every possible means to stop the Gospel from spreading; but in reverse he became the evangelist. Paul has experienced the extravagant love of God in Christ. Therefore in Romans 8:31-39 he put four specific questions and answered in sequence. First, he affirms - “If God is for us, who can be against us? None, because God has reconciled with us through HIS Son Jesus Christ. (vs. 31-32). Second, who shall bring any charge against God's elect? None, for God HIMSELF justifies (vs. 33). Third, who is to condemn? None, for Christ has died bearing our condemnation on the cross and even today HE is interceding for us sitting at the right hand of God (vs. 34). Fourth, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? None, for we are conquerors through Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of God which assures us our eternal security. It rewards us full assurance of our salvation. Paul had understood that as a human being we all have disappointed / have been disappointing HIM, but it had never exhausted God to love us. Therefore Apostle Paul wrote down these golden lines in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to encourage us that none can take us away from the love of God. Therefore let us praise HIM with thankful heart today. 

The Compassionate love of God gives Confidence to HIS children because it renews us as HIS children (Luke 7:36-56) Luke mentioned about the sinful woman, probably she would be a well-known prostitute in the town. At the party hosted by a certain Pharisee, this woman was not invited, but when she learned that Jesus had come to the party, she went there holding an alabaster flask of ointment in her hands. After reaching the party, she began to wet Jesus' feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair of her head, kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. When the host saw it, he was puzzled and began to question whether this man is a prophet? But Jesus told the Pharisee that she loved him much and her many sins are forgiven (vs. 47). She who is living a sinful life, had transformed and become the child of God.  Some of us think that she loved Jesus and offered her best gift to him, that's why she was forgiven and saved. But we need to heed the word of Jesus saying, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (vs. 50). It was not her love toward Jesus, but it was the compassionate love of God which received her as HIS child. It was not by shedding tears or serving the Lord, but the faith turned a sinner into a saint. Her love is just an evidence of her faith which led her to love Him much. Therefore let us love HIM much today.

Conclusion / Application

The compassionate love of God gives confidence to HIS children by restoring us, removing our sins, rewarding us eternal security and renewing our identity. But we must know that we are not saved by our love for God, but our response of true faith for His love for us (Jn. 3:16). We must respond to HIS love by faith in order to be saved. 

In 1829, a man named George Wilson was arrested for robbery. He was sentenced to death. But his friends pleaded for mercy to the President Andrew Jackson. After some time, the President issued the pardon for Wilson, but George Wilson refused to accept the pardon. The authority was puzzled that Wilson should be freed or hanged? The authority consulted the Chief Justice John Marshall. The Chief Justice gave this decision: “A pardon is a slip of paper, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, there is no pardon, George Wilson must be hanged.” Later in 1830, Wilson was hanged to death. 

God has demonstrated His compassionate love in and through Jesus Christ, therefore we must believe HIM and respond with obedience. If we reject HIS love, then none has power to save us from the wrath of God. May the Lord Restore, Revive and Renew us as we have begun to observe the Lent this very year.

(It is preached at St. Martin's Church (CNI), New Delhi on 17th March, 2019 while we were in our Annual Leave @ Advance 2019-20.)