God’s Great Love Toward Humanity

Posted by kathym on June 5, 2010

Do you know why God says things like “Thou shall not commit adultery”, or “Remember the Sabbath”, or ” Thou shall not covet”? Pretty much all of the 10 commandments? I don’t think it’s because He is on His throne looking down on humanity with a stern look, ready to annhiliate anyone who breaks a commandment. And those of us who like to use the word “holy” as the standard of measurement can often shake their pointed finger at us in such a way that causes us to cower away from this “loving” God.

Doesn’t it say while you were yet a sinner Christ died for you? Did God accept you because you were so good? And how did He reveal Himself to you? Did He touch your heart with mercy and compassion or an iron fist?

I think that the commandments are in place because God knows how sensitive we are and easily crushed. Some of us more so than others but it’s in all of us. Our nature is emotional and hard as we may try to avoid these emotions they are there. Some people, such as myself, are moved deeply and I’m not afraid to show it. Some are moved just as deeply but are able to keep it to themselves. Others may express their emotions in forms negatively in forms of anger, cynisism, suspicion; distancing themselves from their feelings.

Think of it like this. If you are a parent you know the boundaries you have set up for your child. You see beyond the moment and the child does not. Sometimes, you do not delight in setting that boundary but you must. Perhaps you have forbidden your child to watch a horror film because you know that child is going to be adversely affected by it. You see beyond the moment. You do not delight in saying no even when all his/her friends are going. That is not the point. The point is that you know how sensitive your child is and the long term effects.

I think this is God’s heart, too.

The Church should be displaying God’s heart. I understand it is necessary to live righteously and stand for righteousness. Yet, first and foremost I believe our hearts must be pure. The Bible tells us that God searches our hearts and to examine our hearts. That tells me not only does He know we can fool ourselves, but how necessary it must be for us to think about our intentions which are found in our hearts.

Not only do I think this means we should be careful to be compassionate within our churches, but outside as well; even more so. How we stand for righteousness, howbeit necessary to be bold, must be so driven by love that the hearer will be compelled to listen and be drawn to God.

Don’t you see a mixture today? I do. I see some representing God with the evidence of Christ’s love – primarily through their compassion and mercy – and, I see those among us who represent God with an iron hand.

Any situation I approach is almost always with utmost sadness for the person involved. Sometimes it is anger at the injustice. But it then leads to compassion and mercy. Some may say I have the gift of mercy. I don’t believe so. The Bible tells all of us to love mercy, to be merciful; compassionate. Isn’t this and only this what Jesus was all about?

The old saying goes, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar” is true. We must express the sweetness of God. If He should mark iniquity, who could stand? That same mercy we received while we were yet sinners should be offered in the same way to others. Anything less is not who God is.

I have been touched the deepest and sustained when not getting what I knew I deserved. That’s God’s heart toward humanity. This love is what the world does not know. If we display the world’s love it will fail.

When we express the right kind of love to others, we will see more who not only turn to God, but stay there.

While we hold true to the commandments, may we reveal the Father heart of God and not a harsh task master.