In Proverbs 27:5, Solomon said, “Open rebuke is better than secret love” (Proverbs 27:5). In proverbs, we read that while not pleasant (verse 6), the wise admonition of a friend is helpful when it is accepted in the right spirit. But love that is never demonstrated or expressed is of no help to its object. It has no value for love must be expressed in actions or it fades away.
God was not secretive about His infinite love to man. The Creator of the universe sent His only Son to come to this dark Earth to live, suffer and die to redeem mankind (John 3:16). The supreme expression of divine love is the Father’s gift of His own Son, through whom it becomes possible for us to be “called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
In describing His earthly mission, Jesus said, The Lord “hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). This was His work. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by Satan.
God’s love covers all humanity, but directly benefits only those who accept it (John 1:12). Love needs exchange in order to be fully effective. But importantly, God’s love covers those who reject it as well as those who accept it. None of the lost can charge God of not loving them. To claim that God has predestined certain persons to be lost irrespective of their own decisions in the matter is to say that He hates them. It is to accuse Him as unjust and blame Him for their destiny (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19; John 3:17–20).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
