Great Is Your Faithfulnessਨਮੂਨਾ

Faithful to Love

"Do you (still) love me?" This sobering question is often asked in a lighthearted way in our house. I'll lean into my husband's ear and tug on his heart, seeking the reassurance that he loves me, despite the spat we just shared or the hectic pace of our current season of life. While you may know that someone loves you, it's nice to be reassured, isn't it?

The beautiful thing about Scripture is that, from start to finish, it serves as a repetitious reminder of God's faithful love for His creation, His people. Even in the midst of His judgment on sin, God so loved, that He gave. (John 3:16)

When I think about the faithful love of God, I can’t help but think about the times when He loves me, and I don’t deserve it. If we go super-spiritual here, because of mankind’s sin, none of us truly deserve His love. But I’m talking about the days when I don’t deserve it because I have failed Him, neglected Him, or didn’t keep my word. Yet God still loves. Scripture reminds us nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:37-39). What does that really mean?

...nothing can separate us from His love. What does that really mean?

Sometimes we don’t feel His love. Why? Because we have separated ourselves from Jesus Christ by our own choices. When we are in right relationship with Jesus, we can experience and be assured of His boundless love. Outside sources can't separate, but each of us can separate ourselves from His love. You see that clear reminder from Paul in verse 39 of Romans 8: “...nor height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God IN Christ Jesus.” (emphasis added) Being IN CHRIST JESUS is where God's love is fully known.

I have wrestled often throughout my life to give God the intimate time of concentrated worship and prayer, just the two of us, like I know I need to. If I’m being honest, while I am in prayer throughout my day, sometimes I struggle to carve out uninterrupted time to just sit and soak in His presence every single day. And yet when I finally sit down and nestle into a time of prayer, my head bowed in shame and repentance before Him, I can actually envision His loving face and gentle, strong arms scooping me up like a tiny child and reassuring me of His love. He was just glad that I came. “No more shame. Let’s enjoy our time together,” He assures me.

God’s faithful love is waiting on you today. If you’re sitting in a pool of shame, He loves you. If you’re dancing with victory on the mountaintop, He loves you. Struggling to break life-altering habits? God loves you. Once called Him Lord, but have walked away? He is loving you back to Himself.

“Lord, I am grateful today for Your faithful love. Thank You for loving me enough to not leave me alone. Thank You for loving me so faithfully when I have been less than faithful. When I have failed to read Your Word, or chosen other frivolous things to waste my time rather than seek Your face, You remain waiting with open arms of love and grace upon my return. Lord, keep loving me. And hear my heart today as it shouts from the depths of my being: Lord, I love YOU.”

Dig a Little Deeper

Take a few moments and journal in a notebook or in the Notes app of your phone about a time when you felt the faithful love of God. You don’t have to write a full page. Just jot down a few thoughts to focus your heart on His faithful love today.

Just like I seek my husband's reassurance of his love, you can extend that same request to God today. "Do You (still) love me, Father?", to which I know He will compassionately respond, "Oh yes, My love never fails. Come a little closer."