His Kind of Love

The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 (New American Standard Bible)

The many facets of this verse continue to astound me. It was one of the first truths God used to revolutionize my Christian life four years ago. His love! A love that is not dependent on what I do. A love that is lasting. A love that is consistent and lavishly given. A love that is not easily understood because of its width, breadth, length, and depth. Just when I think I have accepted His love for me and am walking in that love, God steps in and shows me a new aspect that He is aware I have not begun to grasp.

It happened yesterday. I found myself wincing at an aspect of myself that I don’t like seeing is still a part of me. I am learning we all have things in our life we must confront and continually bring before God. Areas that make us cringe and we want desperately to be rid of. But I am learning that in the process of God’s transforming work He has multiple things to teach me through those very things. Admitting the truth about myself to myself and God took time. He had to unwrap the many layers of shame and condemnation that had cocooned me. I didn’t realize the “hiding” was a self-imposed prison. I had to learn that voicing the truth to Him would lead to a freedom to relax in His presence. Yet something was still amiss.

It was in the process of sharing with Him my continued dislike of this area in me that He was able to help me see an aspect of His love that had eluded me. It was a time for Him to say, “You wince at your weakness because you still have a wrong view of Me. You are failing to see my compassion and mercy for you in your fallen moments.” How well He knows our thoughts! The truth of the matter is that when I bring an issue to God, He is not standing there with His arms folded, a scowl on His face, and irritated disappointment. Instead, He is drawing me with cords of loving kindness and finding pleasure in the process. He is not a God who simply tolerates me. He is a God who loves me with an everlasting love even when I am undeserving of it. I marvel.

I offer these words of encouragement to any who fail to see this same aspect about God’s love. To any who cower or cringe in His presence. His heart is still that of the father who welcomed the prodigal home! He always rejoices at our drawing near to Him. Always!

Father, my view of You is being transformed continually. You are so gentle with my finiteness and imperfection. With You I am safe. With You I am loved. Amen.

What God Delights In

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. Micah 7:18

I love God's heart! This verse displays four things God does that are abounding with His goodness. He pardons our wickedness, passes over our violations of His law, doesn't remain angry, and actually delights in demonstrating mercy.

I know the things that bring me joy and extreme satisfaction. The things and people I take great pleasure in. Mercy is one thing God delights in. So many people look at God as One who derives pleasure in punishing them. To them, He is a harsh task master who wants nothing more than to take enjoyment for life away from them. The almighty kill joy. That was my view of Him for decades.

But THAT is not the God of the Bible. His arms are not folded ~ they are open wide as He invites us to reconcile with Himself. There is joy in heaven when repentance takes place on earth. When Adam and Eve sinned, God came to them. when David sinned, God confronted him. God's great delight in David was the fact that he too longed for reconciliation. If I can fully grasp His desire to extend me mercy and the delight that is His when He does so, I am more inclined to come to Him with my sin.

So I must ask myself if I also delight in mercy. Not only receiving God's mercy but extending it to others. As his child I am to mirror His heart of compassion to others. When someone comes to me for reconciliation do they sense in me a delight to show mercy? Or do I hold on to bitterness, enjoy watching them squirm, and let them walk in shame for what they've done?

May I allow God to change me in such a way that mercy becomes my delight as well. Today I will come face to face with the actions of others that offend me, hurt me, and just plain tick me off! Each will be an opportunity to not only extend mercy but delight in it as well.

Father, You have delighted in showing me mercy innumerable times. May I now reflect Your heart of mercy toward others. Amen.