Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 13

"The Lord is _good to all_: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Ps. 145:9.

12. Why did Christ tell us to love our enemies?

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; _that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust_." Matt. 5:44, 45.

13. How perfect does Christ tell His followers to be?

"Be ye therefore perfect, _even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect_." Verse 48.

The Love Of G.o.d

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Burial Of Christ. "G.o.d so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son." John 3:16.

1. What is G.o.d declared to be?

"G.o.d is love." 1 John 4:16.

2. How great is G.o.d's love for the world?

"_For G.o.d so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son_, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16.

3. In what act especially has G.o.d's love been manifested?

"In this was manifested the love of G.o.d toward us, because that _G.o.d sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him_." 1 John 4:9.

4. In what does G.o.d delight?

"Who is a G.o.d like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and pa.s.seth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because _He delighteth in mercy_." Micah 7:18.

5. How are His mercies continually manifested?

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compa.s.sions fail not. _They are new every morning_: great is Thy faithfulness." Lam. 3:22, 23.

6. Upon how many does G.o.d bestow His blessings?

"He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt. 5:45

7. What did Jesus say of the one who loves Him?

"_He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him_, and will manifest Myself unto him." John 14:21.

8. Into what relations.h.i.+p to G.o.d does His love bring us?

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called _the sons of G.o.d_." 1 John 3:1.

9. How may we know that we are the sons of G.o.d?

"For _as many as are led by the Spirit of G.o.d_, they are the sons of G.o.d.... _The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit_, that we are the children of G.o.d." Rom. 8:14-16.

10. How is the love of G.o.d supplied to the believer?

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of G.o.d is shed abroad in our hearts _by the Holy Ghost_ which is given unto us." Rom. 5:5.

11. In view of G.o.d's great love to us, what ought we to do?

"Beloved, if G.o.d so loved us, _we ought also to love one another_." 1 John 4:11.

12. With what measure of love should we serve others?

"Hereby perceive we the love of G.o.d, because He laid down His life for us: and _we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren_." 1 John 3:16.

13. What exhortation is based upon Christ's love for us?

"And _walk in love_, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to G.o.d for a sweet-smelling savor."

Eph. 5:2.

14. Upon what ground does G.o.d's work for sinners rest?

"But G.o.d, who is rich in mercy, _for His great love wherewith He loved us_, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Eph. 2:4-6. See t.i.tus 3:5, 6.

15. In what other way is G.o.d's love sometimes shown?

"For whom the Lord loveth He _chasteneth_, and _scourgeth_ every son whom He receiveth." Heb. 12:6.

16. In view of G.o.d's great love, what may we confidently expect?

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely _give us all things_?" Rom. 8:32

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Bearing The Cross. "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jer.

31:3.

17. What is G.o.d's love able to do for His children?

"Nevertheless the Lord thy G.o.d would not harken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy G.o.d _turned the curse into a blessing_ unto thee, because the Lord thy G.o.d loved thee." Deut. 23:5.

18. When men appreciate G.o.d's love, what will they do?

"How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O G.o.d! therefore the children of men _put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings_." Ps. 36:7.