God's Benevolence

James 1: 27

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Do you know someone who is just good; there is no other way to describe them?  Every word they speak is encouragement, praise, or helpful instruction.  They treat everyone with respect, no matter who they are, or how old or young they are?  And the work that they do in the church is work that reaches out beyond the church, to schools, to drug rehabs, to prisons, to the hospitals and the list could go on.  

These are people who are full of the love of God.   God’s love is benevolent.  This benevolent love reaches out to us while we are yet in our sins.  It reaches out to all of us, the entire human population.  It is unconditional, unselfish and sacrificial. 

Because God loves the world in this way, His desire is that we reach out to those who are in need, those who are hopeless or helpless, those who are lost.

Through us, God’s benevolent love is offered to the hurting world.

May the love of Christ be with you

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)