THE QUALITY OF GOD’S LOVE

Luke 6:31-33:”And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even ‘sinners’ do that.”

This month, we’ve been thinking and writing about love.  Three times, Jesus asked Peter, “do you love me”?  Each time Peter said, “Yes”.  Jesus then told Peter to “feed or tend His sheep”. (See John 21:15-17.)

I wonder if there are times when Jesus asks us this same question.  We may not audibly hear the question; it may come as an urge to act as we see a situation where we might help someone.  It may be someone in our family or our church family or in the community.

Let me tell you about a woman in our home church who acted from love in an admirable way.  She organized a Sunday School class on Saturday afternoons for “handicapped” children.  She recruited others to assist her with teaching and with transportation.  This class ministered to both mentally and physically challenged young people.  The capacities of these students, both mentally and physically varied greatly.  The people who assisted also varied in gender and age.  The common trait was love for others and love for their Lord.

Mary Fetter taught others about God’s love and she showed His love in her actions and deeds.  The parents/guardians of the students learned, also, of God’s love as they saw it demonstrated by Mary and her helpers.  Those who transported the students quickly learned to love them as they saw the personalities, sense of humor, and character in the ones they picked up.  The class developed into a caring community as they performed, played, picnicked, and studied together.

Mary was a great example of love in action.  She didn’t just say she loved them, she showed it!  It didn’t matter that these students nor their parents could not repay her for her time and effort.  She loved without asking for anything in return.  Surely, when Mary went to be with the Lord, she was welcomed with a “Well done, my good and faithful servant”.

Jesus is asking you and me today, “Do you love me?”  And, He would say, “Then feed and tend my sheep”.