I’ve been hanging out with Martyn Lloyd Jones in his book, The All Sufficient God, and contemplating what love God must have for us in not leaving us alone in our sin. His love for us and His patience with us is absolutely amazing.
When mankind chose to rebel against God, He had no obligation to reach down and save us. He, being the righteous, holy, perfect God that He is, owed us nothing. Mankind chose to rebel and we should have thus received our due consequences in being separated from Him forever. God is a just God and our sins had to be dealt with.
But God, in his love, did not say, “Well, they made their bed, now let them lie in it.” For our God is far too loving and kind to leave us alone. No, friends, He came after us and He continues to come after us as the Good Shepherd does…”to seek and to save the lost.” And this is what separates Christianity from every other religion. We need not earn our way to God. Indeed we can not. We need not follow a list of rules to appease Him. Again, we could not. But what we see over and over again, is God reaching down to man, doing the only thing that could be done to rescue them. Jesus Christ gave His life so that we might live, and it is only through faith in Him that we have peace with God.
And not only does He send His Son (God in flesh) to take the penalty for our sin. He continues to pursue us. Follow the children of Israel through the Old Testament and you will see this time after time. What patience! What love! What kindness! And He does it with us. God pursues us! Do we really get that? Do we appreciate that? Do we thank Him for that? He does not owe this to us. Nothing but the greatest love would do what God has done and continues to do to redeem us and to keep us.
If you are in Christ today, take some time to remember what He’s done, to thank Him, and to consider and meditate upon all that you have in Him, because of Him.
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Romans 5:1
Have a blessed Friday,
~Kim
Note: Image by Anke Sundermeier from Pixabay
Kim,
I love this! Where would we be if God treated us like we treat people who have wronged us! Thank goodness he is a loving and patient God that just sits by our side waiting for us to turn to him! He has been showing me this so much lately that no matter where I was in my life, he was always there waiting with open arms for me to trust and rely on him! Hugs to you my friend!
Thanks, Pamela! 🙂 Yes, I can’t imagine where I would be without Him. He is so worthy of every last drop of my lousy devotion. Love you, friend!