Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Luke 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
LOOK OF PERFECT LOVE
With the blessing Jesus spoke upon His disciples on Ascension Day, He assured them that because of everything He did for them in the months and years leading up to His ascension (His life of flawless obedience to the commandments, His death to atone for their guilt, His triumphant resurrection) His heavenly Father would forever look down on them with His favor. He would love them with that love which surpasses in beauty any love that humans can muster. "Agape-love" the Bible calls it. It's that special one-of-kind, perfect love of commitment which makes the decision to love others regardless of their lovability, regardless of their deserving it, and reveals itself in doing things for them that are helpful.
This is the love (the ascended Savior assures us) that His Father will cause to flow to us like an endlessly gushing stream. As often as we come to the throne of grace with penitent hearts, imploring His forgiveness, looking for mercy, He will speak to us the soul-refreshing words: Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven. My face has no frown, no look of anger or disgust. It has become, for Jesus' sake, a look of acceptance, tenderness, compassion.
Go, My children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, What I can cure.
Here you heard My dear Son's story; Here you touched Him, saw His glory.
Go, My children, with My blessing, At peace and pure.
(Worship Supplement 2000, 800:2)
