Acts of Love

"Acts of Love" – Psalm 103:8 "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." The study begins from a plain definition: mercy, kindness and compassion are not feelings but the acts in which love shows itself. From that comes an uncomfortable test: whoever acts this way is reflecting the character of God, so the measure of love in a life can actually be taken. It moves through Luke 6:36, Ephesians 2:4-5, Micah 7:18 and Titus 3:5 for mercy; Psalm 31:19, Galatians 5:22 and Titus 3:4 for kindness; and Psalm 103:13, Matthew 9:36 and James 5:11 for compassion. It includes her memory of the first believers she gathered with: people with nothing to impress anyone, and yet called by God.

I. According to His riches in glory

A. We must know how much we are caught up in what God has given us; and remember that He gives according to His riches in glory.

B. It is not only of this earth nor of what you imagine: according to His riches in glory, for He has glory.

C. The title is "Acts of love," because mercy, kindness and compassion are the expressions —the acts— of love.

D. And we must be clear: when a person comes to the Lord, everything changes. That is what we all were before: ungodly. And one day Christ came.

II. Where I come from

A. Some cousins insisted on taking her to that group that was just beginning; almost by force, by the obligation of predestination and of God's will.

B. That first day a woman preached, and she began to weep from the moment she heard her; they prayed for her, and she wept much without understanding why.

C. That is how what God chooses for our lives begins. And the beautiful thing is not to be rebellious but meek, and to let ourselves be led.

D. The services moved from house to house, and later a place was rented. And on the way they picked up some brethren from the neighbourhood, ordinary people.

E. To me they were the most important people in my life. And they had nothing to boast of; nor did

I. There was no subject too lofty to talk about.

F. With a sleeve rolled up they went to wash the meeting place. They were happy; it was like a dream.

G. None of them had any glory with which to impress anyone. There is no splendour in any mortal; but there is a calling from God.

H. Do we want to be stars? And Jesus simply did the perfect work: He washed the disciples' feet.

III. What an act of love is

A. If you have mercy, kindness or compassion, it is because you love. It becomes an act.

B. For today people live to show off: every conversation ends in who claims the most.

C. In the mind there are only projections: what I claim, what I want, what I am going to have. And only God gives, according to His riches.

D. They are ways love shows itself toward others: an affection that does not depend on what the person has nor on what we may want from them.

E. And almost always, when you love, you do the labour of service. It is not when others serve you. That is not it, full stop.

F. We are confused because we do not know how to take the place of a meek person. The trouble is that what is liked today is haughtiness.

G. The Bible teaches that all these qualities are born of God's love, and He lends them to us.

H. So when someone acts with mercy, kindness or compassion, he is reflecting the character of God.

I. The matter is not what ministry you hold: "I am the first voice in the choir" is pretension. One can sing and worship and be hollow.

J. Nor is love picking up the phone and talking for an hour. Let us not lay claim to what we lack: let us open our eyes and measure the degree of love in our life.

K. Love is the fullness of coming to God.

IV. Mercy (Psalm 103:8; Luke 6:36)

A. "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."

B. "Slow to anger" means God has patience and does not punish quickly. He does not do it fast; but He does it.

C. Imagine the grief God must feel looking down at the earth from the third heaven. That is why we cannot hold the shekinah, which is His glory in our lives.

D. We were not born to make claims: we were born to serve. And do you give the service that falls to you?

E. "Plenteous in mercy": His forgiving love and His compassion are abundant, and far greater than our failures.

F. Life is one, and with the years a person expires: to expire is to stop working for what you were called to.

G. And what did you do with what God gave you to multiply? Like that man: he buried it. And not multiplying it, he had nothing.

H. The one to fear is yourself: the only person who can harm you is you. It is not someone else who gives you your insecurities.

I. Luke 6:36 — "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Believers must reflect God's character in how they treat others.

J. And God will never accept cruelty, because God is all that is good, just, lovely, true and of good report.

K. Life is so simple, and we complicate it: a child wakes up happy even if he went to bed crying. And who wakes up cross? The adults.

L. To have God's character is to pray, to fast, to be sanctified and to read the word. If we knew mercy, we would show it to everyone; but we do not care to.

V. Rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5; Micah 7:18; Titus 3:5)

A. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us... hath quickened us together with Christ." And what joins us to Christ? The blood: this is a covenant of blood.

B. That blood is alive to this day, and it is upon whoever is converted. And that blood is holy.

C. Salvation is born of God's mercy and love: though humanity was separated by sin, He offered spiritual life through Jesus Christ.

D. It is not that we paid a price, nor is it a matter of religion: it is through the body of Jesus Christ. The Father said: you pay for all those who receive you.

E. Micah 7:18 — "He delighteth in mercy." It exalts God's unique greatness: He pardons iniquity and does not retain His anger forever toward those who repent.

F. Can you imagine how many sins He has forgiven you? If he who knows to do good and does it not already sins, imagine the rest.

G. We are bold to speak of everyone, bold to shout at home, bold to give opinions. And why is no one bold with himself?

H. "He delighteth in mercy" shows that God enjoys showing compassion and forgiveness: His desire is not to destroy, but to restore and reconcile.

I. And that is each person's own decision: however much you push, you cannot do it for another. And where is it decided? At the centre, where no one sees.

J. Titus 3:5 — "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." Salvation is not obtained by human merit.

K. Divine mercy gives new life and spiritual cleansing even when no one can save himself.

L. Some fast without being converted: fasting is done for oneself, not for God. And when it is used to boast —"I have fasted three days," "I have read the whole Bible"— that is boasting.

VI. Kindness (Psalm 31:19; Galatians 5:22; Titus 3:4)

A. God put Adam and Eve on the earth to love Him; He gave them everything and told them one thing. And they ate. And He had to come and die for us.

B. Psalm 31:19 — "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee!" Fear God, and God keeps you.

C. He reserves blessings, care and favour for those who honour Him and trust Him fully.

D. Divine goodness is not only a feeling, but a visible manifestation of His love, His protection and His faithfulness toward those who wait on His help.

E. Kindness is the quality of doing good with love, sincerity and generosity: a heart ready to help, to treat others well, and to act rightly.

F. In the Bible kindness reflects God's character: friendliness, generosity, compassion, patience, and good actions toward others.

G. Think: two cars arrive at once and neither gives way. Those are actions. And in actions God's reflection is seen: "let him pass."

H. For we live entirely for ourselves. When you begin to develop for another, you are the one who receives.

I. What you had to do today and did not do, that day has passed, void, into eternity. Tomorrow comes, but this day will not come again.

J. Galatians 5:22 — kindness appears as part of the fruit of the Spirit: the qualities the Holy Spirit produces in the believer.

K. And it is not only outward behaviour but inward transformation: when the monster comes out, it is because there has been no transformation within.

L. If Christ came and was let in, there is a transformation that reflects God's character. If He is not let in, we remain carnal.

M. And take care what you do: God will make it known at the precise moment. Mortals hide things; God uncovers, God never keeps silence.

N. Titus 3:4 — "After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared": God's kindness was revealed through Jesus Christ.

O. When a person comes to the Lord, what he receives is God's kindness: the forgiveness of sins. One goes into the water and comes out a new creature. How easy God makes it.

P. And why can we not have kindness? Because we want everything for ourselves. A person has to get tired of himself.

Q. And what is done quietly, that no one knows, is torment for the one who carries it. And who said it is not known?

VII. Compassion (Psalm 103:13; Matthew 9:36; James 5:11)

A. Psalm 103:13 — "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him."

B. It compares God's compassion with a father's love: as a father feels tenderness and care, God shows compassion to those who honour Him.

C. It reveals a God who is near, loving and attentive to the needs and weaknesses of His people. But notice the condition: toward those who honour Him.

D. Matthew 9:36 — "When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

E. It shows the compassionate heart of Jesus on seeing people confused, needy and without spiritual direction.

F. The comparison with sheep without a shepherd teaches that people need guidance, care and salvation.

G. And Jesus' compassion was not mere emotion: it was love that moved Him to help, to teach and to heal.

H. James 5:11 — "The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy," even in the midst of suffering.

I. It uses the example of Job: though the trials were hard, God never ceased to care for him nor to have purpose for his life.

J. Job lost his children and lost everything; but when God raised him up, He gave him far more. And Job kept his heart and loved God with all his strength.

K. That God is merciful is no weakness in God: the trouble is that we do not know how to make use of that mercy. And to disregard it is to mock God.

VIII. The three definitions

A. Mercy is showing compassion and forgiveness, and loving toward someone who is in need.

B. Kindness is being ready to do good and to treat others with love, friendliness and generosity: it is love expressed in good actions toward others.

C. Compassion is feeling another's pain, need or suffering and wanting to help: it is the heart being moved to help, comfort or care.

D. And that is required of us: it is not that others have compassion on you, it is that you have compassion, church.

E. We must have kindness as the church of Christ, and mercy must exist in our life.

F. "Compassion is love that feels the pain of others and acts to help." When do you do it? For we live entirely for ourselves, demanding from everyone.

IX. Application

A. Measure your love by your acts, not by your feeling: mercy, kindness and compassion are the measure.

B. Serve instead of making claims: when a person loves is when the labour of service is done.

C. Give way, in small and everyday things: that is where God's reflection is seen.

D. Do not despise God's kindness by habit; and remember that what you did not do today has passed, void, into eternity.

E. Examine what you do quietly: it is torment for the one who carries it, and it is not hidden.

F. And have compassion yourself, instead of waiting for others to have it on you.