GOD'S FAITHFUL LOVE

The nation of Israel is God's chosen people. He revealed Himself to them and made a promise that they would be His people who would shine His light to other nations on the earth. God had given them a prosperous land and blessed them. However, they rebelled against God because they wanted to be like the other nations, which worship different idols. They ended up worshiping different idols and abandoning God. As a result, God disciplined them and brought judgment against them, not to destroy them, but to restore them to the right relationship with Him. God sent the prophet Jeremiah to them, warning them that judgment was about to come upon them. He would use the Babylonian Empire to destroy their land and take them captive for 70 years. After 70 years of captivity, God promised them that He would lead them back to their land. These are the words that God said to the nation of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah, "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself. I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines. Again, you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria and eat from your own gardens there (Jeremiah 31:3-5)." 

Although we are not the nation of Israel, we are God's children through our faith in our Lord Jesus (John 1:12). God expects us to worship Him alone, and not live like the ungodly people of this world. God loves us so much that He will always draw us to Himself, even when we choose to rebel against Him. Our God the Father will never give up on us, no matter how bad we have become. God has already proven His faithful love to us by sacrificing His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross to save us from our sins. God will do anything to bring us back to Himself. When God disciplines us, He disciplines us not to destroy us but to restore us. God loves us with an everlasting love. 

Let us be encouraged today that God loves us. He hates our sins, but He loves us as His children. God loves us immensely and desires for us to walk in His ways, rather than the sinful paths of this world, as His ways bring true life and joy.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) How did God show His faithful love in this world? How do I respond to God's faithful love? Does God give up on me when I choose to rebel against Him? Why?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for loving me faithfully, even when I am in sin. You discipline me to restore me to you because you know that your ways are the only way to life, peace, and joy. I praise you for not giving up on me. I pray that you will continue to change my heart and protect my heart from willful sin. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.