Do We Love Them?

I know that nothing that we can do or say will alter the purpose of God. Those whom he has chosen in his blessed Son will be saved with an everlasting salvation. God the Father purposed it. God the Son purchased it. God the Spirit executes it. This gives us great comfort and assurance. However, he has given his people a desire, motivated by love, to be used of God, instrumentally, in the furtherance of the gospel which is the means whereby he calls his chosen to faith and life in Christ. And this he does. Therefore, as followers of our Lord, we are examples to all men of the grace of God whereby we have turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. This is a glorious, yet a serious and sobering truth.

Those who really have this desire do not have the attitude that “What ever will be, will be”, or “Since it is all of grace and God will save His people anyway, it makes no difference what I do”. There are those that profess to believe the gospel, that say that they desire the salvation of their children, grandchildren, family and friends, yet by example, tell them that they could care less. They see no real love for Christ because they see no real commitment to the gospel. They understand that to them the pleasures and comforts of this world is priority. They see no real joy and pleasure in the things of God. They think nothing of exposing themselves and their children to a false god and a false gospel, which is idolatry.

There are two (among many) great distinguishing characteristics of a child of God.

1. A commitment to, and a desire for the souls of men,
2. A loathing and hatred for every false way.

I would ask ourselves two vital, sobering questions, of which the answers will reveal where we really stand,

1. How important is the gospel to me?
2 . By example am I seeking the salvation or the damnation of those whom I profess to love?

My friends, the former determines the latter. May God in omnipotent grace cause us to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.