Graceful Truth

JESUS LOVES ME, THIS I KNOW

May 26, 2020

JESUS LOVES ME, THIS I KNOW


Most people have a hard time acknowledging this most foundational truth. To say that God loves people implies that God loves them, and for many, it doesn’t feel like this compassion exists.

Why is this so? Since the Garden, God’s great Enemy has whispered in our ears every time something bad happens. “God did that and that means He doesn’t love you.” In fact, Satan doesn’t need a cause to proclaim this great lie. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world with no tragedies. It just took Satan’s whispers to create a doubt about God’s goodness toward them. He convinced them that God was withholding the best from them and, therefore, could not be trusted and followed.

THE UNDENIABLE TRUTH

God shouts to us of His love in so many ways. Nineveh is a prime example in the book of Jonah. We often focus on Jonah’s lack of love which caused him to run from his assignment to the wicked city of Nineveh. But notice God’s love. He went to extraordinary lengths to get a prophet to them to preach an 8-word message.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.”
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”
Then the people of Nineveh believed in God and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them … when God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it (Jonah 3:1-5, 10).

 

God had prepared these people. All they needed was a message and a messenger. God was wanting to save them. It was not His desire that they perish, but that they would be delivered by His compassion and longsuffering grace.

God loves people. Jonah didn't, which the book that carries his name illustrates ... a continual shame to him for misrepresenting his Father. He pouted when they repented. He would rather let 120,000 people die in their sin. But God is not like this.

God loves people. And if He loves them so greatly, it means He also loves you. You should never doubt His affection. His continual advances to you to save you—even to the giving of His Son for your salvation—should forever contradict the Devil’s lies.

Father, thank You for loving me—even in my sin and rebellion. Forgive me for listening to the Enemy’s lies at times and doubting Your goodness. Forgive me for not trusting You enough to follow You explicitly. I am overwhelmed by Your love that is personally directed to me. Let my trust and following continually illustrate to a watching world that I totally believe in Your love.

 

 

 



Also in Graceful Truth

THE RELIABLE MERCY OF GOD
THE RELIABLE MERCY OF GOD

November 20, 2024

God’s mercy is His goodness poured out on undeserving people. It is God not giving people what they deserve but what He desires to give because He is God.

Continue Reading

FINDING GRACE IN THE WILDERNESS
FINDING GRACE IN THE WILDERNESS

November 19, 2024

“The people … found grace in the wilderness.” My, my. The summary of our lives in one verse. Amid this world’s darkness, the Enemy’s relentless attacks, and the weakness of our flesh, we are continually finding grace from our Father, even in the wilderness. In fact, especially in the wilderness.

Continue Reading

CHOOSING TO BE BLESSED OR CURSED
CHOOSING TO BE BLESSED OR CURSED

November 15, 2024

The great theologian Clint Eastwood said, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” Wise is the man who understands his weakness early and lives a life of dependence upon the Root of David. It will be an everlasting source of life and fruitfulness to and through him.

Continue Reading