The rain fell gently yesterday evening. Rain is a gift.

The sun will shine today – so the weather app says. Sunshine is a gift.

The Bible says that the activity of the rain and the radiance of the sun are gifts from God. Jesus said that both these gifts are enjoyed by all the people of the earth. “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Those who do good, and those who do evil, are both recipients of the sun and the rain.

God has a love for all he has created and so, even those who refuse to acknowledge him, resist his presence, or rebel against his ways, experience his goodness. God does not withhold evidences of his great love from anyone. This is not to say that God’s love accepts all the ways of the world.  He cannot and will not affirm the notion that people can live however they want and believe whatever they want.  His love is designed to draw men and women to himself, turning their hearts and lives to him and his ways. Life in him is what we were created for. We are reminded, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). Jesus did not live and die without reason! His death and resurrection were not without a great cost. Jesus, ‘laid down his life’ so that we might know, experience, and live, the extent of God’s love (1 John 3:16).

The challenge comes to us in that when Jesus says these words he is speaking about the love WE are to have.  WE are to shower gifts of goodness on both those who do good and those who do evil.  Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” Then we read what follows, “FOR… he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God loves his enemies. We, as followers of Jesus, are to love those who are difficult to love.  That is not the way of the world, but it is the way of those who have been given the love of Jesus in their hearts. Eugene Peterson articulates this in a powerful and challenging way. “If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

Today, let’s be reminded of God’s immense love as we sing.  Let’s also live God’s generous love to all on whom God’s sun shines and rain falls.

43: Come, Let Us All Unite To Sing

1. Come, let us all unite to sing:

God is love!

Let Heaven and earth their praises bring,

God is love!

Let every soul from sin awake,

Each in his heart sweet music make,

And sing with us, for Jesus' sake:

God is love!

 

2. O tell to earth's remotest bound,

God is love!

In Christ we have redemption found,

God is love!

His blood has washed our sins away,

His Spirit turned our night to day,

And now we can rejoice to say:

God is love!

 

3. How happy is our portion here,

God is love!

His promises our spirits cheer,

God is love!

He is our sun and shield by day,

Our help, our hope, our strength, our stay;

He will be with us all the way;

God is love!

 

4. In Canaan we will sing again:

God is love!

And this shall be our loudest strain:

God is love!

Whilst endless ages roll along,

We'll triumph with the heavenly throng,

And this shall be our sweetest song:

God is love!

 

Gracious, loving God.  Not one of us is truly lovable.  Our stubborn, broken, humanity, fails others, and above all you, every day. Thank you for loving us, and forgiving us, and enabling us to live as new creations. You give us a new nature that can grow in the ways of our Saviour Jesus. This includes loving as he does. Clothe us with your love today.  May those, who we experience as our enemies, see Jesus in us.  Draw them to the depths of your overwhelming, matchless, endless, extravagant, never-ending, love, through us. AMEN

With care and in prayer,