An Everlasting Love

Jer. 31:3  "...I have loved you with an everlasting love..." (NIV)

"...I've never quit loving you and never will.  Expect love, love and more love!" (MSG)

During a recent doctor's office visit, I noticed a pamphlet in the waiting room magazine rack entitled "Five Wishes".  On the cover, below the bold print title, were listed five wishes that a person might want to make known to his or her family.  Just to give you an example, one of them was, "Who do I want to be in charge of making medical decisions for me if I am not able?".  But the one wish I read that made me stop and think was simply, "What do I want (wish) my family to know?".

At first, I thought  about things like life insurance policies, retirement and bank account information.  And that stuff is necessary and important.  But the more I thought about this wish, I began to think about the most important thing I could tell them.  The one thing I would want them to remember more than anything else and forever.  I would want them to know my heart.  Not what we had materially but what we had relationally.

I came to the conclusion that I would want each of them to know how much I loved them from the first day they came into my life until the last.  And then some.  And all along the way, no matter what happened in life, I had never quit loving them and never would.  Although I'm sure mothers feel this way too, I believe this love to be very much that of a father for his family, for his children. I know it is mine.  I hope my family expects love, love and more love from me.

Our Father in heaven expresses His unconditional, inexhaustible love for us in the same way.  If there is one wish the Father would want His children, His family to know, I think this verse says it best.  I've always loved you, I never quit loving you and I never will!  Expect My love.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  God loves you. 

Did, Does and Will

2 Cor. 1:10  ...who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,...

What I love about this passage is that it covers all the bases.  In it are contained the past, present and future tenses of God's rescuing power.  He did deliver us, He does deliver us and He will deliver us.

In the previous verse, Paul recalls an extreme situation, scholars debate as to exactly what that situation was, in which the apostles feared for their very lives.  They didn't think they were going to make it.  Certainly not in their own strength.  So, they had no choice but to trust in Him.  A God who raises the dead, who can rescue from the most extreme of all situations.  A resurrecting God.  And it was this past rescuing that caused Paul to acknowledge God's ability to rescue today and tomorrow as well.  In such a God, it only makes sense to trust, hope and expect.  He is our Resurrection and our Rescuer.  Yesterday, today and forever.

Can you recall a situation in your own life that you didn't think you were going to survive?  Can you look back on it now and know without a doubt that only God was able to rescue you from it or bring you through it?  Do you see your daily trials and tribulations as opportunities for Him to rescue yet again?  Finally, do you trust Him and realize your future is being overseen by the One mighty enough to raise and rescue even the dead?  He did, does and will deliver us always.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Trust in God to deliver you always.

Nothing Back

1 Pet. 2:23  He never did one thing wrong.  Not once said anything amiss.  They called Him every name in the book and He said nothing back.  He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.  (MSG)

We are not perfect.  We all make mistakes.  We all say and do things we later regret.  And so when we suffer the consequences of our words and actions, we accept those consequences and understand that we deserved them.  But it is a completely different situation when we are treated poorly or wrongly accused when we don't deserve it.  To accept such treatment without retaliating or defending ourselves goes against our human nature.  Everything in us wants to rise up and lash out at those who would seek to hurt or destroy us.  And often times, we do just that.

Jesus was perfect.  In word and deed.  And so, it is absolutely mind-boggling that, standing before Pilate, He responded to mistreatment and accusations in such an unexpected way.  He said nothing back (Mt. 27;12, Mk. 15:3).  No one would have been more justified in responding with righteous anger than He.  And yet, demonstrating incredible restraint, He said nothing back.  Why?

First, Scripture tells us (1 Pet. 2:21) that Jesus suffered everything that came His way so that we would know it could be done, that it was indeed possible.  Verse 20 of The Message translation says, "But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God."  Yes, it can be done.  Jesus showed us how.  No, it isn't easy.  But it counts with God.  Secondly, it tells us that He suffered in silence being content to let God set things right.  That is to say, Jesus was content to let His Father be His Judge.

How then should we respond to being treated poorly and to being wrongfully accused and maligned?  What should we give in return?  Nothing back.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Continue in spite of how you are being treated and let God be your Judge.