“How do you think God feels about you, even in your everyday ups and downs?” I ran across this question in my Bible Studies recently. I must admit, I haven’t thought much about how God feels about me. Mostly I am concerned with my feelings—and actions—toward Him.
Coming from the old traditions of dos and don’ts, it’s always hard to imagine God’s constant love, His grace, His unmerited favor. We know Jesus went to the Cross to show God’s love to us in redemption.
I wonder why it is that we still insist on earning God’s love? And earning our redemption? As if we could do either. We can never deserve His love or redemption.
As I read about Jesus’ interaction with people while on earth, I am struck by His gentleness. With the Woman at the Well: He never judged her, He engaged her in conversation and gently led her to the Truth—Himself.
With the Centurion who begged for his servant’s life: he recognized his own unworthiness to even ask Jesus to heal his servant, yet his love for his servant compelled him to ask. Jesus lovingly assured the Centurion that his servant was healed, and the soldier believed. When I watched “Jesus of Nazareth”, this scene burned on my mind: the look of love on Jesus’ face as the Centurion was led away to his servant, all the while looking back at Jesus with the trusting eyes of a child. I remember thinking, “I wish Jesus would look at me that way.”
You know what? I bet He does. I am God’s beloved. All I have to do is look back on my life to see His love. He has always been kind and compassionate to me, a sinner. Jesus came to show me God’s love as He sacrificed Himself to reopen the communication lines and the show me the Father’s heart.
What else can He do? He is patient and kind and understanding of my failures. He accepts me when no one else does, or when I can’t stand myself. He still loves me and will always stick close to me in everything. He is faithful. I am humbled and grateful.
Do you know His love for you?
“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” I John 4:16.
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