Scripture: “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”– Jeremiah 31:3
Examination: Jeremiah sends a message to the broken nation of Israel that offers the hope of future restoration through God’s intervention. He tells them of a new covenant that God will establish, and that His love for them has not ceased.
Application: Years ago, my husband and I attended a program at my church about love and marriage. The most important takeaway for me was that love is not a feeling. It is a decision. In fact, it is a daily conscious decision to remain committed to someone, supporting them and caring for them no matter what happens. Frankly, there are times when I am not very lovable, but I am so glad my husband made the decision to love me “for better or worse”.
God’s decision to love us is also a forever decision. All through the Scriptures, we can find the evidence of God’s eternal love for His children. Even when Israel rebelled against Him time and time again, His love remained steadfast. Jeremiah 31:37 records God’s regard for Israel, “Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.” His love for His chosen people will never cease despite their sin.
It is the same for us today. Even before we were conceived, God knew each of us individually. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…” (Jeremiah 1:5). David rejoiced in this when he wrote, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14). We are each unique creations of the Lord, and He loves each person that He brings into this world even knowing that many will not reciprocate that love. However, because of His great love, He made the way for us to be reconciled to Him forever if we so choose through the sacrifice of His Son. In fact, God loves us so much that when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, He abides in us!! 1 John 4:12 states, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” We are deeply cherished by God. “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee:” (Isaiah 43:4).
Jonathan Edwards wrote a well-known sermon entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. He spoke of the judgment that an unrepentant sinner would one day face. As one of those sinners, it is such a blessed reality to know that God loves me so much, He made a way for me to be forgiven of my sins and reconciled to Him forever. The new message for those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour becomes, “Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God” for we are no longer enemies of God nor are our sins to be held against us. 1 Thessalonians 6:9 promises, there will be no future judgment for those saved by His grace. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”.
One last truth that verifies God’s eternal love for me is found in Romans 8:38-39. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” There is nothing that will ever separate me from God’s eternal love!
Giving one’s heart to Christ is so easy. It requires nothing but the decision to do so, and it is not hard to make the decision to love Him when you know He already loves you and will continue to do so for all eternity!
Memory Verse: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace…” – 2 Thessalonians 2:16
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me– now safe am I.
Love lifted me, love lifted me,
When nothing else could help, love lifted me;
Love lifted me, love lifted me,
When nothing else could help, love lifted me.
(from “Love Lifted Me” by James Rowe)