God's Infinite Love

Text: “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Story: “We Require Loving”

A little girl was making but poor progress toward recovery, though the ailment had been checked and there seemed to be no reason why she should not rapidly improve. But it didn’t happen, and the doctor in charge was keenly interested to know why.

She was a very sensitive child, easily scared, responding quickly to kindness. Perhaps she was afraid of Nurse or Sister or her unfamiliar surroundings.

The doctor decided it was the lack of understanding which was retarding recovery, and so wrote a directive upon the temperature chart: “This child requires loving every four hours.”

God is even better than that: He says, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.”

--------Winship Storey in his Methodist Recorder

God’s love for humankind is illustrated in Creation. Before God created man, He created everything necessary for man’s survival. The stage was set for the greatest creation yet to come. And then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26).

Man was going to be unique. He would be created with certain qualities not available to other created life. Man would be able to reason as God reasons. Each man created would be different in personal traits, abilities, and intellect. Man would be able to relate and communicate with one another, as well as with Almighty God. Man would have the ability to reason.

Man had it made until Satan showed up and very cunningly convinced Eve to perform the act of disobedience. After man was placed in the Garden of Eden, God said, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16, 17).

The tree of knowledge of good and evil would give man independence from God. This independence would pertain to all facets of man’s life. On the other hand, the tree of life would give Adam and Eve and all God’s children the opportunity to spend eternity with the Father in His kingdom.

Man was being set up to disobey God through the act of temptation. The serpent, the devil, Satan, said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die’” (Genesis 3:1-3)

The serpent was very cunning, very sly and very clever. He is the same today. He waits for the right time when he can lead us from the straight and narrow path of life down the wide road to destruction. The serpent or Satan plays on our mind as he did on Eve’s mind. He convinces us that what God says is wrong is in reality very good for us.

Many times we follow his direction. Many times we take bait, hook and sinker. People without a strong faith in Almighty God are gullible people. Even those who have a strong faith can be mislead because they do not have a personal relationship with God’s Son Jesus Christ. They have never invited Him to come and live within their heart.

Story: “When Christ is in Control”

Martin Luther was often very graphic in his description of the activities of the Devil. Asked one time how he overcame the Devil, he replied, “Well, when he comes knocking upon the door of my heart, and asks, ‘Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here but he has moved out. Now I live here.’

The Devil seeing the nail-prints in the hands and the pierced side, takes flight immediately.” It is surely good for every life and for every home to have Jesus as a permanent resident. This assured, heavenly blessing are sure to fall upon such bodies.

-----------------Sword of the Lord

God loves mankind so much that He sent His son into the world to give each person an opportunity and a second chance to live with him in His kingdom. He sent His son into the world through a young virgin named Mary.

“…the angel Gabriel was sent by God …to a virgin pledged to a man whose name was Joseph…and said, Rejoice , highly favored one, the Lord is with you;…you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:26-28, 31).

This was God’s plan and He followed through with it. He knew the heart of man. He knew man had disobeyed Him, but His love was so strong for His creation that He was willing to give His Son so man could have the opportunity to be redeemed and saved.