Showing God's Love = Submission

How do we show God’s love, God’s way? It stands to reason that in order to do this, we must submit to God’s instructions as set forth in His word. We will not always feel like showing love toward others. This is why we must submit to the Father’s will through our obedience, and thereby strive to display His love regardless of how we feel.

Jesus is a perfect example of this teaching. He showed His love to others based on His submission to the Father’s will rather than his feelings or emotions. Luke 22:41-44 gives us a little insight into Jesus’ feelings before the crucifixion, “And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” This does not sound like a man who was willing to die on behalf of one or many because of the strong feelings of emotions He had for them. Jesus was fully man and fully God. He experienced pain and temptation like any other human, and yet was without sin. As he faced the cross, Jesus knew he was about to face the full brunt of God’s wrath for the sins of His people. From a human stand point, He abhorred the prospect, but due to His desire to submit to the Father’s will, He acted in obedience, regardless of how he felt,“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” We must be willing to follow in our Lord’s example“.. if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:20-21).

True Christ-like love displays to others the balanced message of the gospel, which shows both God’s great love and His wrath against sin. The greatest picture of the gospel message is displayed for us through the cross of Christ, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:8-9). The cross is a portrayal of both God’s love and His wrath against sin. If we show others a love that denies either of these truths of the gospel, then we are displaying a distortion of God’s love.

If we have experienced God’s love, it will show itself through a desire to submit to the Father’s will, no matter what the cost. It is a travesty that so many have the distorted idea that, because He does not allow them to remain in their sin, God is not kind and loving. This fact, in actuality, confirms the very love of God! This is why “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent...” (Acts 17:30). To repent is to turn from sin and turn to righteousness, “As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live...”(Ezekiel 33:11). However, all men will not repent. Many will choose to remain in their sin and be angry with God for not accepting them the way they are. This shows they have no desire to obey God, nor even experience His love. Their pride keeps them from it. Scripture tells us that, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Those who choose to remain in their sin show that they have no fear of God whatsoever, “And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).

Let us be as accurate as possible in our portrayal of God’s love to others -- by having nothing to do with what God hates. “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate” (Proverbs 8:13), These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

If we have nothing to do with what God hates, then we must have everything to do with what God loves, “For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds,” (Psalm 11:7), “He loves righteousness and justice” (Psalm 33:5).

As those who have experienced the love of God within our own hearts (if we truly have), let us be submissive to the Father’s will, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).