TAKE NOW THY SON

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 13, Matt 12, Neh 2, Acts 12

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 22:1-19 The way God expresses His love is different from the way we express love. He does not like, He loves.

John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. He does not dislike, He hates. Proverbs 6:16-17 says these six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him; A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood. There are two levels of God’s love; there is the general love and special love. Under general love, He loves everyone – the good and the bad. According to Matthew 5:45, He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. This love costs nothing; all that is required is for you to take it. He gives light to everyone. He gives the rain even to farmers to who publicly confess that there is no God.

There is a higher level of love called special love. Those He specially loves enjoy special benefits. In 2 Kings 2:10-11, we see God sending a chariot from heaven to bring Elijah-His prophet home. God loved this man so much he did not want him to see death. When He wants to bless this group of people, He blesses them until their barns can no longer take the blessings. Take for instance the case of David in 1 Samuel 16:1, God told Samuel to fill his horn with oil and go and anoint him. The question is why fill a horn with oil just to anoint a man? Is that not wastage? The oil could have been used to anoint at least a thousand men. That is God for you. When He loves, He cannot stop giving. He anointed David with the Holy Ghost until his cup run over. Also this group of people enjoys special favors from Him. In Genesis 18:1-16, God Himself left heaven to come and eat in the house of His friend – Abraham. What is required of me to enjoy God’s special love? You need to love God. Proverbs 8:17 says I love those who me. John 14:21 says he that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love, and will manifest myself to him. This special love cost something. It might cost you your time, resources or things special to you. That is why it is special. You will be required from time to time to demonstrate that you really love God. In Genesis 22:1-19, Abraham was required to demonstrate His love for God. God told him to go and sacrifice his son and he obeyed. Because he loved God, God loved him back and mightily blessed Him. Peter also demonstrated his love by leaving his fishing career and following Jesus and in return, God filled him mightily with the Holy Ghost to the extent that his shadow was healing the sick, Acts 5:15. I have always nursed the ambition of studying abroad but for one reason or the other it never materialized. During that period, our church was preparing for its annual convention and there was a lot of brick laying works been carried at the convention ground. I joined the brick layers and worked for free for Jesus. Few months after the convention, I found myself on the plane to abroad to go and study. I loved Him and He reciprocated the love back!

ACTION POINT: Demonstrate your love for Him today, by working for Him and watch Him deal with your channges.