The Answer is Love

“Oh, my Lord, give her the living child.”  (1 Kings 3:26)

What parent would give their child away? What possessed her to do such a thing? Love. Often, the answer is love.

Two women of ill-repute gave birth to sons; one died in the night. Because both women claimed to be the living child's mother, they brought their dispute before King Solomon. Upon hearing their arguments, the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.” Upon hearing the king’s verdict, the child's true mother pleaded with the king to spare her son and give him to the imposter. The other woman quickly replied that she wanted the baby divided in half, and each could have the child. Solomon looked at the mother who begged the child’s life be spared and said, “Give her the living child . . . she is the mother thereof.” How did he know? Love—to spare her child’s life, she would let him go to another.

A childless couple with a deep love for children housed foster children for years, and after the last of them safely returned to their homes, they became house parents in a facility for children. During that time, God connected the couple with a woman expecting a third child, a baby for whom she was unable to provide for his needs. Respecting the sanctity of human life, the mother chose the couple to adopt her child at birth. How could she give her child away? Love. Knowing they loved and served the Lord and would love and teach her baby God’s ways made the decision easier. Another child, one born with special needs, spent his first five years in an orphanage because his biological parents didn’t want the responsibility; they abandoned him. Why? Lack of love. God again intervened, opening opportunity's adoption-door, leading the once-childless-couple to the boy living in another country. Both adoptions were “a God-thing.” God intersected the hearts of a young couple with two boys needing rescue, and His incredible love made way for it to happen.

Before He laid the world’s foundation, God knew only the blood of a spotless sacrifice could redeem sinful humanity; so, He sent His sinless Son to die a cruel and shameful death to pay our sin-debt. Why would God not spare His only Son? Love—His unconditional love for undeserving people—for us. If you haven’t received the gift of God’s salvation through the sacrificial death of Jesus, know that the Father loves you. His saving grace through the cleansing power of Jesus’ precious blood makes it possible for you and me to spend eternity in heaven. But you must first invite Jesus into your life. He is our only hope of eternal life with the Father (Ephesians 1:4–8).