We preach the love of God when we preach God’s commandments. God does not forbid us anything that would be good for us. He gave us his Son. What would he withhold that we should want? He commands us to do nothing except what is best for us to do. He forbids nothing except what would harm us. His law is a law of love. His revelation of it to us is a manifestation of his love,
We preach the love of God when we preach the cross. God so loved that he gave the only gift that could really cost him anything. In the outstretched arms of Jesus, we see the breadth of God’s love. In the Sons nailed pierced hand and feet we see the pain the Father willingly suffered for us. The cross proclaims the horror of sin, the depth of God’s wrath against iniquity, and the depravity to which man can sink. But above all else it trumpets the love of God. God demonstrated his love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (2 Peter 3:9)
We preach the love of God when we preach his mercy and forbearance. His gift of love was given so we could be saved from our sins. He does not deal with us according to our sins or reward us according to our iniquities. He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Unrepentant sinners need to hear of the wrath of God, lest they suppose that God can be mocked and they can reap some crop other than the corruption they have sown. But terrified sinners, despairing sinners, men and women who have reached the end of their rope, need to hear of the mercy of God, unless they continue in sin because they have no hope of redemption or of the possibility of change God is not willing that any should perish. That is the good news that makes the gospel gospel.
We preach the love of God when we preach God’s nature and attributes. “God made the world and everything.” God is great, God is good.” The smallest child learns these things and also learns, “God is love.” If we do not believe in God’s love, it is not God in whom we believe. If our understanding of God does not make us love, it is not God we understand. If we say we know God, whom we have not seen, yet have no love for people, whom we have seen, we lie. It is not God we know.
We preach the love of God when we do good to those in need. God chose our hands to be his hands to minister his love to others, just as he chose our mouths to be his mouth to tell his love to others. We are the light of the world, and the light the world is to see in us is God’s light as we reflect it, as the moon reflects the sun. We are to be holy as God is holy to show His Holiness to the world. When our holiness is sullied by open sin, the name of God is blasphemed among the pagans because of us. We are to be merciful as God is merciful. If the world does not see His mercy in us, in whom may they see it? We are to love as God loves. When we do, people see our good works and glorify God. When they cry to God for help, and we help them because of God, they learn that God is love.
Let us not neglect any means of preaching the love of God.
Cecil May, Jr., Former President, Magnolia Bible College via Preacher Talk
COMMUNICATING LOVE
Here is a brief list of ways the New Testament tells us to communicate with each other as Christians:
1. Suffering Together. 1 Corinthians 12:26
2 Rejoicing together. Romans 12:15
3. Carrying each other’s burdens. Galatians 6:2
4. Restoring Each Other. Galatians 6:1.
5. Praying for one another. Romans 15:30
6. Teaching and admonishing one another. Colossians 3:16
7. Refreshing one another. Romans 15:32
8. Encouraging Each other. Romans 1:12
9. Forgiving one another. Ephesians 4:32
10. Confessing to one another. James 5:16
11. Being truthful with one another. Ephesians 4:25
12. Spurring one another to good deeds. Hebrews 10:24
13. Giving to One another. Philippians 4:14-15
