God Our Father - Part 8

Part of trusting the Lord involves knowing the nature of God.  God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), love is not just something the Lord does it is His nature.  Knowing the nature of God increases our faith in Him and this is the reason we are currently teaching on this series.

God cares so much about how humanity sees Him that He sent His Son to represent Him correctly.  Jesus is the exact representation of God.  Everything that Jesus did in His earthly ministry expressed the Father (John 14:9).  

This week we continued in our study of 1 Cor. 13.  We looked into the phrase in verse 5 which states, "love does not seek its own."  What does this statement mean?  It means that love (God) does not strive after self.  God's motivation is never selfish.  This tells us that God is not sitting in heaven thinking about Himself.  It also tells us that God is never overtaken by self-pity.  God is motivated by a desire that focuses on the benefit of others.  

• Love or God is concerned with giving itself rather than asserting itself.  

 
This kind of love is demonstrated in the life and ministry of Jesus.  Let's look at Matthew 20:20-28.

Scripture:  Matt 20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23 So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.  25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave —  28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." NKJV

• God’s love is not selfish; it’s actions are not motivated with the thought of personal gain. Jesus is teaching His disciples how God and the Kingdom of God operate.  Achieving greatness is not gained by an overpowering of the inferior but by serving all.  Servants and slaves regard themselves as less worthy than others.  They place others needs before their own.  Jesus sees future greatness in terms of present servitude.  Wanting to rule with Jesus is not rejected in and of itself, but ambitious striving, jealousy, and politicking are rejected.  In the Kingdom of God (love) desire for power and honor do not lead to greatness; only the self-denying, humble attitude of the servant can do that. Jesus offered His own ministry among them as an example of true servanthood.  His entire purpose, His entire life, was shaped by His decision to serve.  His ultimate act of service was the giving of His life on the cross and Jesus did all of these things because it is the Father’s nature.  

The nature of God is not self seeking, it does not insist on its own rights or its own way. God is love and love is a giver.  

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

In Christ, Pastor Sean