GOD IS LOVE

PART FOUR
DISCIPLESHIP THE PATH TO LOVE

“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son…”
JOHN 3:16

Love is sacrificial. It is its very nature to give and expend itself on behalf of others. The giving is not determined by the worthiness of the receiver; hence God so loved the world. Such sacrificial extravagance lavished on us staggers all reason. Love does not measure its giving based on merit; it measures its gift by the giver. Love motivates all who are held in its sway to show forth the mercy and truth of God. Love is truly the greatest gift for in the giving of it we participate in the sharing of God Himself.

Love is the birthplace of all of God’s expressions. Mercy, truth, exhortation, reproof, forgiveness and judgement all flow from this one source and all are remedial in intention. He seeks relationship with man. We read of the “voice of God” walking in the cool of the evening looking for that fallen Adam. We see Him clothe that fallen one’s nakedness and we hear Him speak of a coming redeemer who would crush the very work of Satan. HE would GIVE HIS only begotten SON to become our עֲזָאזֵל ʽazāʼzēl, sin bearer. That same love is now sent into our hearts that we would manifest it in the world in which we live. Love is not only extravagant but costly. The more we are held within its power the more we become aware of its worth and sacrificial nature.

The radical call to discipleship is the very means by which we are enabled to give and shine forth this costly pearl of great price. It can only find expression to the degree that one has known the breakings and work of the cross. Our Love FOR Him holds us to the cross. The Love OF Him is expressed through the outworking of the Cross in us.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another”
JOHN 13:35

Discipleship and Love cannot be separated.

“The disciple is not above his master:
but every one that is perfect shall be as his master”
LUKE 6:40

Discipleship is the path to becoming like our master. To learn of Him, to discover His heart and His ways one must be yoked (Matthew 11:29-30) with Him in the bonds of love.

Ω

“Not what the disciple says in public prayer,
not what he preaches from pulpit or platform,
not what he writes on paper or in letters,
but what he is in his heart which God alone knows,
determines God’s revelation of himself to him.
Character determines revelation”
Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)

Brian Troxel