As I meditated on the precious love of God, I began to get carried away in deep thought about the vastness of His love and just wanted to share these reflections with you …….
We’ve probably all experienced unrequited love in one way or another – through friends, loved ones, etc. Many of us know what that feels like and how painful it is – giving love, opening the door of our hearts, hoping for relationship, only to experience coldness or rejection – and so does God, especially as He has oceans of love for us.
Even if we have a relationship with God, through Christ, sometimes our erring ways can cause us to actually move away from Him, from that close fellowship we should have, because we know He is holy, and when we fall short we feel we have failed Him .. yet again.
It can be the case that instead of running TO Him, we may find ourselves missing out on those special times of closeness in His presence. The love of God, being unfathomable and pure, reaches out to us in mercy. Again and again, He lovingly calls us to draw near to Him, in so many ways: perhaps through a song, a word of scripture, encouragement from a friend, a sermon, even through circumstances. God patiently waits … with oceans of love … but are we always aware?
There have been seasons in my faith life when things were going along nice and smoothly, then, at some point, a situation may occur in which I felt I’d failed God again in one way or another, and (feeling defeated) would think to myself, `He must be tired of me constantly coming back for forgiveness’. As my relationship with Him grew, however, I became reassured by the reminder that it wasn’t any good that I had done that made me acceptable to God – but the righteousness of Jesus alone. Thank You Lord!
We are encouraged in scripture to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NKJV). We are saved by grace through faith, and not by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Although we are saved FOR good works, we’re not saved BY them. When we realise this, we can not only ask for forgiveness when we’re in the wrong, but can forgive ourselves and others too. It’s all about the life of Jesus being lived through us. It’s all about Him, not us! Through the everlasting love of God, that same saving grace is available to us for daily living.
When Jesus sacrificed His life for us on the cross, He paved the way for those special words that He uttered to be fulfilled – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The transaction was done in terms of God. He “SO loved the world that He gave ..” (John 3:16). God’s oceans of love caused Him to give. He did His part. After that, it was our turn to respond to His gift, so that we could experience this forgiveness and the vastness of His love.
It’s continually our turn to respond to His heart of love which extends beyond the cross, however. As we seek to follow the Lord in our daily walk, we can experience more and more the reality of His love, and continual cleansing and forgiveness, because of our fellowship with Him (1 John 1:7-9). His sacrifice makes us acceptable; His perfection covers our imperfection.
Against the many distractions, trials, temptations and struggles in our journey with God, His eternal and holy love beckons us to keep on coming. God is love ~ rich and free. Love calls us ~ love awaits us. Isn’t that precious?! Tears fill my eyes just to think about this fact. That love is unconditional, forgiving, full of mercy, continually reaching out to all the world, looking for an inlet into human hearts. What a treasure we have in our hearts as believers!
Prayer: Thank You Heavenly Father for your fathomless oceans of love, shown to us through Jesus, Your Son, in His sufferings, death and resurrection. Thank You that this precious love made it possible for us to draw near to You, to come before Your throne and find all our needs met, because of Your heart of mercy and forgiveness. May the love You continually show .. fill our hearts daily, and may that love be poured out through us to others also ~ for Your glory and praise, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Here is a beautiful song about the love of God (a song I love) written by Graham Kendrick entitled “Such Love” …..
A day is coming, take heart, dear friend A day when trouble at last shall end When Christ shall gather together His own To be with Him ever in heaven’s sweet home
When sorrowful tears He will wipe all away When pain shall cease in that endless day When loved ones again will see one another Fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers
Aunts and uncles, daughters and sons Grands and greats, everyone! Where there will no more be clouds of the night Where Christ, the heavenly Lamb, is the light
Where joy and gladness forever will reign When Jesus our Saviour shall come back again Keep walking with Jesus and never give in Each day, He’ll give you the grace to win
That day is coming. Look up and be strong Hold on to the end, for it won’t be long! -oOo–
Week by week, month by month, year by year, trouble everywhere is increasing. Scripture is being fulfilled before our eyes. But amidst the darkness of this world, the light of hope in Christ is shining. Be encouraged dear believers – a change is coming. God’s Word shall not pass away.
Jesus said
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“..if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. (John 14:3)
“A Day Is Coming” is published in my book COMFORT & HOPEavailable from Amazon
I’m excited to let you know that I’m running a 2-day free promotion for my first book of inspirational poetry FOREVER GRATEFUL (available from Amazon – published Jan 2014). Forever Grateful is a collection of 40 poems full of heartfelt words of comfort, encouragement, praise and appreciation of the love of God that I found through Christ – a love that has sustained me during difficult life experiences, and which is the inspiration behind my writing. This will be available FREE on KINDLE for 2 days:
THIS FRIDAY – SATURDAY (28 – 29 NOVEMBER)
Normal Amazon Kindle price, currently (US)$4.13 / (UK) £2.64
or you may use the following link which will also transfer you to Amazon – http://smarturl.it/comfortandhope (then click on the Kindle link).
I pray that you will be blessed and enjoy reading as much as I have enjoyed writing the poems. If you have obtained a free Kindle copy of Forever Grateful, I would very much appreciate a review on Amazon, if you would be so kind!! 🙂 (Or here on my blogsite).
My new book of poems, Comfort & Hope has now been released (published Nov 2014). Details in my next blog 🙂
Thanks so much for following me! God bless you,
Christine 🙂
Dear Friends, as we journey through life and unforeseen events occur, whether simple or greatly distressing, our faith may be tested – feelings may get in the way – sometimes we may be anxious, but there’s hope …….
As a glimmer of light on a starless night faith keeps hope alive. When days seem long and you don’t feel strong, faith will help you thrive.
Like Winter, Summer, Autumn or Spring, life brings seasons of change. As sure as the sun, trials do come, but friend – don’t think it strange.
Faith sings a song of joy within for things still yet unseen; rejoicing in hope, it helps you to win, so don’t give up your dream.
Hold onto God through faith in Christ and always sing your song. The answer will come, just trust in Him, each day as you journey along.
I’m honoured to be a Guest Blogger on Blogs by Christian Womenand today they published my recent article entitled “Love Beyond Limits”. in which I share some of my life experiences. I pray this will be a blessing to someone …… thanks for reading!
“There’s something so very wonderful about God’s love. It reaches beyond all the restrictions of the human mind that cause people to close doors to one another (and to Him); restrictions that cause people to go so far and no further, and for so many different reasons – status, culture, appearance, belief systems, disability, etc. The love of God even reaches beyond the limitations we place on ourselves because of past experiences – loss, failure, hurts, etc.
I lost my mother at the age of 18 months. My sister and I were in care for almost a decade and during that time she became disabled. Although she was older than me, ……… ” (to see remainder, click on this link http://wp.me/p4YjKM-aL)
I pray this may be an encouragement to someone reading it today.
