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Paul said, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" Ephesians 3:16-19.
Ever wondered if you really mean anything to God?
Since God is Alpha, Omega, and present with us (all at the same time) proof of His love can be examined retrospectively, presently, and prospectively. Try it.
Take a moment to reflect on the last prayer God answered or try to remember a messed up situation that somehow all of a sudden turned in your favor.
God's love for us can not be measured with a measuring stick. It is eternal. His love is not a catch-22 or paradoxical situation where we are required to demonstrate righteousness before we can receive his love. Only after we have received His infinite love will we be made righteous.
"Because of our sins, we are in a desperate state and need the LORD’s salvation. But the LORD only answers the prayers of a righteous man, and a righteous man wouldn’t be in the place we are" (David Guzik). He knew we could not stand in His presence and depend on our own righteousness as leverage for answered prayers. Judged retrospectively our record is full of flaws. We cannot compare our record of faithfulness to God with his faithfulness to us.
The commonly recited scripture from John 3:16 was one of the first ones I learned to quote from memory as a child. It reads, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. When Jesus, who is the Son of God, died on the cross it was the best thing to ever happen to this dying world.
“No creature strays more easily than a sheep; none is more heedless; and none so incapable of finding its way back to the flock, when once gone astray: it will bleat for the flock, and still run on in an opposite direction to the place where the flock is: this I have often noticed” (Adam Clarke).
Because He loves us beyond comprehension, He finds us, redeems us, and even goes as far as to restore us back to our rightful place in His Kingdom. Isaiah reads "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you: Isaiah 52:5-7. "Zion and God’s people will know how much the LORD loves them. His feeling towards them is more than an obligation-type love; instead, He will rejoice over you," David Guzik.
Isaiah 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
God does not hate you. In fact, he feels the opposite. His son went to the cross to prove it. Now the ball is in our court. We must find a way to make God know that we love Him back.
Tina Pressley
The Readers Choice