title: The Love of Loving His Own People ‘ Service (John 13: 1-2) - Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim layout: post category: On-3-Minute-Sermon date: ‘2023-01-12’ —
Many people have fixed ideas toward God by saying, “God is love!”, and think that God should receive everything, and they can do whatever they want. If the perception that ‘anyone can receive salvation without discrimination’ is mixed up, they come to conclude that they can receive the salvation unconditionally regardless of who they are. This attitude leads to a state of having no guard against sins – and they finally come to the deadly situation which cannot fulfill salvation by betraying grace.
The love of God, as the Bible says, originally refers to His mercy. It does not mean that God likes human being so much that He is at loss. It means that He has compassion for human beings, who have fallen into sins, and He has patiently waited for them for so long. The mercy of God is part to the righteousness of God, and His righteousness is revealed through His mercy. Many people neglect God (who has been patient with them for a long time) and they keep on doing evil deeds. On the other hand, those who know God’s mercy will go to God with an attitude of repentance, and moreover, they will want to obey God’s law.
It is because God truly wants to rescue those who want to obey Him that He endures human beings for so long. God earnestly wants them to have an obedient life for Him. Of course, no one can completely free themselves from sinful nature, but the Lord is with those who are willing to truly follow Him, and He even recognizes them as righteous. When the angel of death swept the firstborns all over Egypt on that night, the houses which obeyed God’s word were protected from disaster, and the salvation of God was fulfilled. Like this, God (who is with us) sincerely hopes that we have an obedient life.
In this way, the mercy of God (who has been patient for so long toward sinners) is universal love – for it gives sun and rain to both the wicked and the good. However, a love that is different from this had been hidden, but finally Jesus Christ revealed it. The Lord poured out His ardent love on those who would risk their lives to do the work He entrusted them while they relied on Him wholly and followed Him anywhere. They are determined to be with Him and be loyal to Him to the end, even if everyone abandons Him. For the first time, the disciples observed the enthusiastic love of God, which embraced them passionately and cherished them since they saw the Lord wash each of their feet. It was different from the love that is simply patient for sinners.
Not everyone can receive this love just because they are entrusted with the Lord’s work. There are people who say that they love God but actually they love themselves more. Those who consider themselves as righteous judge others with their own standards, and furthermore, they interrupt God’s work. The Lord will classify those who ignore God’s mercy as the ones who do not love Him, and they will never know the passionate love that dwells together with God and the Son. Therefore, do not neglect God’s mercy. If we received His very patient love, let’s offer ourselves for Him. Let us respond to the Lord’s passionate love to love His own people to the end.
(Lord’s Day Service on November 20 2022)
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