This morning, I'm taking a little detour, but we'll get back to Matthew tomorrow! My heart is hurting today after a conversation with a co-worker yesterday. My co-worker shared with me how someone told her that the reason God gave her her highly autistic son was because He wanted her to learn compassion, as a discipline of sorts. The end. I could not believe it. How can a human being tell us EXACTLY why God does what He does in the first place, and how is it that I don't see that in the Bible anywhere?! My friend shared with me with tears in her eyes that this happened 20 years ago! Twenty years ago...wow, words can cut deeply, can't they? And, understandably so, with this perspective of God, she has not wanted to attend church much...though I get a sense that she wants to want to attend church.
Oh, fellow Believers, and lovers of Jesus Christ, we must watch what we say. If we are God's hands and feet on this earth, we need to represent Him well. Remember Jesus with the woman at the well? After being married five times and currently living with a man who was not her husband, Jesus did not condemn, discipline, or rebuke her -- rather, He offered her His living water (a faith in Him that would supply her everything she would need). If we're going to tell someone what the Bible says or what God's reasoning is for something, let's make SURE it's in the Bible first!
So, today, I want us to look at a few Scriptures that reflect what God REALLY feels about us. And if you have been hurt by actions or words that "came from God" through another person and have left you with a deep cut, may I please tell you that on behalf of The Church, I am sorry. We are all wounded, even the most Bible-beating Christian out there. Please hear me today that God loves you. He absolutely LOVES you. May you soak up what these few verses have to say in reference to God and you, loved one.
"The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7). Do you see all those characteristics of YOUR God in there? Can you believe the God of the universe is compassionate toward you? He is abounding in love toward you? And He forgives anything you do when you repent! I told you, He is crazy about you!
And how about this picture of your God...
"He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young" (Isaiah 40:11).
This was the verse that I read the morning after my mom died. I had gotten up early, before anyone else, because I couldn't sleep. I did one of those, Lord, I don't even know what to read, but I'm just so sad. I'm going to open this Bible and start reading, and I really need a word from You right now. This was the verse I came across. What tenderness! The rest of that chapter talks about the POWER of God. It's incredible -- He's so tender, but also powerful beyond our comprehension. And He loves you.
"The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will...
rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).
God sings over us! My mom used to sing sweet lullabies to us as kids, and my dad would sing silly made-up songs that would make us laugh. I'm not sure which kind of singing it is, but I wouldn't doubt God might do a little of both. It seems strange, but my dad was rejoicing over us even in his silly singing. Just something to think about...
And let's not forget His ultimate gift of love toward us: Jesus Christ.
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)" (Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT). While we were yet sinners...not after we became good, but in the midst of our sin. He loves you so much!
Whether you feel His presence today or not, if you have given your life to Him, He is with you. If you have not given Him your life, He will be relentless in His pursuit of you, desiring that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
Lord, how I pray we would sense your great love for us today. Help us to comprehend it. Help us to accept it.
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