August 16 - God is Love

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalms 112; John 18

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Follow the example of Jesus who showed us how
to love by laying down our lives and our picket signs! 

A church that gets a lot of press across North America is Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. I wish they agreed with Dorothy that “there’s no place like home” and just stayed right there in Kansas. Unfortunately, they get out and about a lot and they are not happy anywhere!

I remember them being in the news tweeting about Robin Williams, telling his grieving family that God hates Him and he is now rotting in hell for his life of debauchery. They picketed at his funeral, like they did for U.S. gay vets who sacrificed their lives for their country. The accompanying photo in the paper was a group of angry Christians, decrying sin and sinners alike, holding signs saying, “God hates adultery,” “God hates divorce,” and “God hates you!”

To be fair, they may draw some inspiration from the Old Testament prophets. Their messages carry strong words about God’s wrath and judgment. Clearly God does not like sin. But the Bible also clearly states: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Not that God is loving sometimes; He is the personification of love! Our reading in John beautifully illustrates His compassion for the sinner as He surrenders His life to be tortured and killed in our place. Though not mentioned in John, we know He tenderly heals the soldier’s ear, injured in the scuffle when they came to arrest Him (18:10,11; Luke 22:50,51).

Can you imagine Jesus yelling at the crowds, “I hate you.” He certainly would have been entitled. Instead, we read of how He intercedes for both the self-righteous and sinner with these words, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34). God indeed loves everyone, sinner or saint, no matter how unlovable we are or think we are. His hatred of sin coincides with His love for us because sin keeps us from Him.

“Lord, may I never confuse Your hatred for sin with Your unconditional love for everyone. I choose to follow the example of Jesus who showed me how to love by laying down my life, and my picket signs!”