God is love. But what is love? The word love means many different things to many people. However, if we agree that God is love then we should also agree that we can learn what love is by answering the question, how does God love?
Does God love in the warm fuzzy way? Does he sit on his throne and heaven just think warm thoughts about us? Or does God loves us in the “pat you on the back whatever you do†way? Is he there to bless whatever we do in whatever way we desire?
Truth is, God loves his people in a way that sounds odd at first. He loves by exposing and rebuking sins. Why? Because it is not loving to let someone walk in the way that leads to present and eternal destruction.  No mother watching their child about to touch a hot burner just celebrates their curiosity.   No Father rejoices in their boy’s bravery in deciding to play in the busy street. God is love. Love rebukes wrongdoing.
God also loves by rejoicing in right-doing. When people give generously, he opens the doors of heaven and makes the storehouse overflow. When his people gather together, he writes a book of remembrance. And why? Because it is loving to encourage people to walk in the ways that lead to eternal life. God is love. Love rejoicing in right-doing.
Yes God loves his children by rebuking wrong and rejoicing in righteousness. This what he does for all who he has chosen as his beloved people, all who have baptized into the death and resurrection of his Son. He rescues them from the roads of wretchedness and leads them in the paths of righteousness.
There is a day coming when those who walk in wickedness will be set ablaze. But on that same day the righteous will leap with joy at the sight of Jesus. And that is why God loves like he does, in order that those chosen by him would be with him forever.
This is how God loves.
Adaptation from Sermon Preached 25th Sunday after Pentecost 2010
Based on the prophecy of Malachi
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