Lesson: IMITATING A GIVING GOD
TEXT: Eph. 5:1,2
MEMORY VERSE: Acts 17:25
And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. (NIV).
INTRODUCTION:
Even if it is possible for an enemy to give to his target as a bait to harm, it is impossible to love without giving. So, no wonder that God so loved the world (humanity) that He GAVE His only begotten Son (Golden Text). ‘God so loved’ suggests the degree of that love. The love is so enormous that it facilitated the release of His only and begotten Son given the name, Jesus, because of His assignment. I show my wife and children (my closest partners) my love for them not only when I give services to meet their needs, but also in thinking of what to do as a testimony that I love them. This, I do so that I may not miss any anticipated opportunity to show that love in any circumstance that life may present.
OBJECTIVE: In this lesson, we want to see how Jehovah demonstrates His love for us and the characteristics of that love.
PRESENTATION
Step I: DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US
(a) The gift of the other creatures for our corporeal (material) well-being.
i. This is truly love-inherent as we never prayed for it. (cf. Eph. 1:3-4)
(b) The gift of Jesus for our spiritual well-being. (cf. Rom. 5:8).
I. Again, we never asked God for Him (ibid).
Step II: CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD’S GIFT OUT OF LOVE
(a) It is good and pleasing (cf. Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18,21, 25; Rom. 8:32; Eph. 5:2).
(b) It is indescribable (See 2Cor. 9:15).
(c) It is need-oriented or need-meeting (cf. Gal. 4:4-5).
(d) It is priceless (cf. 1Pet. 1:18-19).
(e) It is inventive- the first of its kind (cf. Rom. 5:7-8; John 15:13; 1Cor. 2:7-9).
(f) It is an expression of love, not forced (cf. Eph.1:4; 5:1,2).
CONCLUSION:
A giving God is a reigning God. He that is God-like perpetually arms himself in giving to meet the needs of the needy in the society for His sake. By so doing, he unarguably reigns with God (cf. 1Cor. 3:9). Let us please apply His grace into our hearts to willingly subject ourselves to identify with God in such hospitable traits as outlined above.
EVALUATION:
1. If a materially rich fellow only keeps friends who are rich like himself, has he any opportunity to demonstrate
God’s love? How?
2. How does God’s gift of the Bible demonstrate His love for us?
3. If at the place one lives in this world, he will be alone all his life without seeing a fellow person, the preaching of Jesus is not for him. (True or False). Why?
PRAYER: Thank God for His Word and pray for His grace to show forth His marvelous light in a dark world in which we live.
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