If we examine the way in which the Father’s love is presented in the Scriptures, we shall find that it is not always set upon the same objects as the love of God. God is said to have loved the world, but such a thing is never said of the Father. God loved you and me when there was nothing lovable about us. He loved us because of what was in Himself, for “God is love” (1 John 4: 16). It was for this reason that He “gave his only–begotten Son” (John 3: 16). By contrast, the Father loves us because of what is in us. He has found something in you and I in which He has unbounded delight. What is it? Nothing but the little spark of love to His Son which He has kindled there for Himself: “the Father himself has affection for you, because ye have had affection for me, and have believed that I came out from God” (John 16: 27). Here, where His Son has suffered all the dishonour that the shameless heart of man could invent, you are found on His side, lifting up a testimony in His favour––and on that account the Father loves you. You say that your love is so weak that you hesitate to speak of your love for the Lord. You feel He is worthy of so much, and you render to him so little. Ah, but you do love Him––and can the Father be regardless to any scrap of affection towards “the Son of His love” (Col. 1: 13)? Impossible! How the Father loves to cherish that little vital spark, and by the power of the Holy Spirit to fan it into a mighty flame! Satan would seek to quench it, and upon it the world ever tends to have a poisonous influence, but the better we know His love, the more we shall love Him. Furthermore, “If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him” (John 14: 23). Inestimable privilege in a world hostile to Christ! May we love Him more, treasure His Word in our hearts, and know something of the blessed truth that the Father Himself has affection for us!
