October 7, 2020
I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Jeremiah 31:3, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
This beautiful passage, speaks about God’s love towards the people of Israel, that God has loved them with an everlasting love. It states that the Lord will certainly fulfil His pledge to re-gather His chosen people, back into their own land. It is a reminder that He drew them to Himself in love and His love for them is everlasting. It has given them confidence that He will fulfil the promises He made to their forefather Abraham, and His seed forever. Yes, God says, in His proclamation to Israel, “I have loved you with an everlasting love therefore, with loving-kindness I have drawn you.” God’s Word is true. His promises are sure and His faithfulness endures from one generation to the next. His eternal commitment to Israel stands fast forever and His sacred word is unchanging and unchangeable.
We have been experiencing the love of Jesus in one way or the other. His love is an everlasting love. Firstly He opens the eyes of the blind. Secondly He lifts those who are bowed down. Thirdly He builds up the ruined places of your life. Just as God had chosen Israel for Himself, He has chosen you to be His dear child of God. He has redeemed you from the bondage of sin and curse and from the mouth of the grave and gathered you to His heavenly kingdom. He has met all your needs according to His riches in glory in spite of your unbelief and rebellious nature. He wants to restore the joy of your salvation. Because, He has chosen you to be His special people.
God is holy and God is just, but the very nature of God is love. The rich and abundant mercy of God is not only poured upon you but upon all those who believe on His name. For the Lord makes poor and makes rich. He brings one low and lifts up the other. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. To set them among princes, and make them inherit, the throne of glory. God’s eternal character of love, is a multiplicity of godly attributes and divine graces, for He is good and gracious, He is patient and kind, He is long-suffering and abundant in truth. He is infinitely unchanging and perfect in all His ways. And by His grace and goodness we discover ourselves to be His beloved children by faith in Christ.
It was not just because of our sorry state that He demonstrated His unconditional love towards us. God’s love rests upon His eternal, unchangeable, divine character. God has a unique and unfathomable love for all mankind, which was demonstrated toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus paid the price for our sin so that His unconditional love could be demonstrated through Him. God’s love is the only love that never falters and never fails. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God loves you simply because He loves you. You don’t have to work for his affection. For God absolutely loves you. It’s hard to get our minds around, but it is true. This is where the faith journey starts: understanding that God loves you. If you do not have an assurance of God’s love, your faith journey will not last long. Fortunately, reading the Bible can help to strengthen your faith in God’s love.
Apostle Peter was one of the twelve disciples who talked and walked with Jesus while He was on this earth 2000 years ago. This Peter professes in front of the other disciples at the Last Supper that he would willingly die for Jesus. But Jesus knew the heart of Peter. He predicts Peter will deny Him three times. When a servant girl pointed out that Peter was one among the disciples, Peter denied. As the weather was cold there were people warming themselves in the fire and suddenly they looked at Peter and said, “’ Are you not also, one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, “I am not.”Then again another man whose ear Peter cut off, said, “’Did I not see you in the garden with Him? Peter Denied again and immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
God loved Peter even though he betrayed Jesus three times. He was afraid to speak the truth as the soldiers might also catch hold of him. But Jesus not only loved him but built the church upon Peter the rock. The Bible says, that Jesus looked at Peter and said, “And I say, unto you, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This is the kind of love Jesus has for you also. Even though you reject Him He gladly accepts you as His beloved child. Jesus was wounded for your transgressions. He was the One Who was bruised for your iniquities. He did not die because of who you are, but because of His everlasting love towards the children of men.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord though we are unworthy You love us with unconditional love. Lord you are God of wisdom and love. God of authority, yet because of your mercy, and love, You picked us up out of the miry clay and set our feet upon the Rock and put a new song into our mouth. Thank You Father for Your everlasting love for us and we thank You that in loving -kindness You drew us to Yourself and made us Your children. We thank You for your unfailing love.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
