The Father’s Motivation and Mission of Love
• God is love—1 John 4:8b
o The story of God and His people in the Scripture is all about God loving His people and working towards restoring them back to Himself
• The Father’s love motivates everything that He did/does/will do
• Jesus coming as our savior is a demonstration of this love—John 3:16-17
o V. 16-God’s unconditional love motivated Him to send His son, Jesus so that we can be restored to the Kingdom of God
o V. 17- Jesus’ purpose was to provide an opportunity for us to come to wholeness
• God could have done anything He wanted to restore His Kingdom—He chose to do it through Jesus because it provided an ultimate example of what love is and who He is
Jesus’ Mission of Love—John 8:1-11
• Everything Jesus did embodied the love of the Father and His desire to see people brought to wholeness
• The woman caught in adultery deserved death according the law of Moses
o The people who brought her forward were motivated by ‘religion’ and right-ness
o Jesus was motivated by love and righteousness
• Jesus has compassion for the people he encounters in his ministry—Matthew 9:36, Luke 7:12-15
o Compassion—Greek: ‘splanchnizomai’- a deep, felt inner affection and love for another person. A sense of inward affection that is felt in one’s organs
o This specific word for compassion is only used in the NT to describe Jesus’ feelings and subsequent actions towards people• Other words for compassion in the NT are weaker and denote sensitivity or sympathy towards another
• Jesus’ mission ultimately culminates on the cross where He freely gives Himself for us—out of His love for us
The Holy Spirit’s Mission of Love Today—Through Us!
• We are called to this very same love today—Matthew 22:39
• The presence of God in us is what allows us to love the way that He loves—1 John 4:7-12
• Love is not an intangible concept—it is practical action— It is what worshipping God looks like “in spirit and in truth” -John 4:23
Engaging in the Jesus Mission of Love
• It starts with a relationship with God who is Love—when you allow Him to love you, you will love Him in return and will then begin to love others
• Ask God to give you the compassion of Jesus for others
• Love the way Jesus loved—unconditionally, with no strings attached, and without judgment
• Practically speaking— go out of your way to meet the needs of other people
o shovel someone’s driveway
o pay for someone’s groceries or buy them a meal
o pay for someone’s gas
o be present with people
o revalue those who are marginalized
o share the Gospel with others
• There is more need around you than you could ever meet by yourself—just find some people to love, and do it!
• “I am a servant. I will love others with the love of Christ, seeking their welfare before my own.”