God Is Love

God the Father is not a bean counter who weighs our good deeds against our sins, thereby deciding whether we will spend eternity in heaven or in hell.  Rather, He is a God of love through which He extends His grace and lovingkindness, “in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.

Just as parents love their children with unconditional love that isn’t based on achievements, so the Almighty Father loves us.

That “parental love” is described in the parable of the prodigal son.  A wayward son returned to his father and despite the objections of his brother, his father declared, "My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was necessary to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found." 

A boy seven years old was adopted by his aunt and uncle.  His adoptive parents were farmers who toiled in the fields and the orchards to save enough money so he could fulfill his lifelong dream of attending university.

As their teary eyed son left for the university campus, he told them that he loved them and would pay them back for all that they had done for him.  But his father said, "There is no need for repayment.  Our only hope is that you will love your own children the way that we love you."

And for those of us who didn’t have the good fortune of being raised by loving parents, we can take comfort in the promise that we can all become adoptive sons and daughters of a loving God, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  And in doing so, we can share that love with those around us.