BEING LOVED WITHOUT END

PART 2

05/11/03

REVIEW

NOW THIS MORNING I WANT YOU TO NOTICE HOW THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE LOVE OF GOD IS IN JESUS CHRIST!!!   (ROMANS 8:39)

JESUS IS THE TANGIBLE EXPRESSION OF GOD’S LOVE IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE IS THE EXACT REPRESENTATION OF ALL THAT IS TURE OF GOD HIMSELF!!!!

AND HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRST-BORN OF ALL CREATION”     COLOSSIANS 1:15

I TOLD YOU LAST WEEK THAT LOVE DEFINES GOD’S NATURE AND HIS MOTIVES!!!

IT IS AN INSEPERABLE PART OF EVERYTHING HE IS. 

GOD SENT HIS SON (LOVE) INTO THE WORLD…..

AND WHOEVER WELCOMES HIS SON RECEIVES HIS LOVE!!!!

SO IF THE QUESTION EVERY COMES UP IN YOUR HEART……”CAN GOD STILL LOVE ME AND WANT RELATIONSHIP WITH ME AFTER WHAT I HAVE DONE?….

THEN ASK YOURSELF ANOTHER QUESTION……”DO I STILL WELCOME JESUS IN MY HEART?

BOTH QUESTIONS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER!!!!

YES!!!

WHEN GOD SENT HIS SON….JESUS CHRIST INTO THE WORLD…….THE INVITATION WAS CLEAR!!!

“I LOVE EACH OF YOU….AND I WANT TO HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU FOREVER……..

RECEIVE MY LOVE (JESUS)”

THE SIMPLE SAD TRUTH IS THAT MOST PEOPLE DID NOT …..AND DO NOT……ACCEPT GOD’S INVITATION!!!

EMBODYING THE LOVE OF GOD……JESUS CAME TO THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN CREATED BY THE LOVE OF GOD………AND YET MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE REJECTED HIM!!!!

THEY CHOSE NOT TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH HIM BEC HIS PRESENCE CAST LIGHT ON WRONG THINGS…..THAT THEY WERE DOING AND SAYING!!!!

INSTEAD THEY OPTED TO REMAIN IN DARKNESS…..AND AWAY FROM GOD AND HIS LOVE FOR THEM!!!!

NOW…..

THE THING YOU WILL DISCOVER AS YOU INVESTIGATE GOD’S LOVE IS THAT IT IS NOT PASSIVE…..

IT IS NOT INTERNALIZED EMOTION!!!

THOUGH HE THINKS ABOUT US ALL THE TIME….HE DOES NOT JUST THINK ABOUT US!!!

OUT CULTURE TEACHES US THAT LOVE IS MOSTLY A FEELING INSIDE, ONE THAT OCCASIONALLY MANIFESTS IN DOING SOMETHING FOR THE ONE WE LOVE!!!!

BUT TRUE LOVE….

AGAPE LOVE ……IS MORE THAN A FEELING!!!!    OR A FEELING INSIDE OF US!!!!

AND A FEELING THAT OCCASSIONALLY MANIFEST IN DOING SOMETHING FOR THE ONE WE LOVE!!!!

TRUE LOVE…

AGAPE LOVE IS MORE THAN FEELING…..

IT IS A WAY OF BEING TOWARD OTHERS…

A DISPOSITION…..

A SET OF BEHAVIORS….

A MANNER OF RELATING TO PEOPLE……

IT ACTS AND INITIATES!!!!!

(MARIE PAYNE THIS WEEK……….MOTHERS LOVE THEIR CHILDREN IN SPITE OF THEIR ACTIONS )

GOD’S LOVE GIVES….

AND EXTENDS…………..

AND ACTIVELY OFFERS……………………..ITSELF TO YOU AND ME!!!!!

OUR LOVE MUST RECEIVE………………AND EMBRACE…..AND ACCEPT HIS LOVE ACTIVELY IN RETURN!!!!

HE INITIATES…

WE RESPOND

HE LOVES….

AND WE RECEIVE THAT LOVE!!!!

NOW THAT MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL POINT…..BUT IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRUTHS YOU WILL EVER LEARN!!!!!

AND IT EXPLAINS WHY WE MUST INTENTIONALLY RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEART AND WELCOME HIM INTO OUR LIVES!!!!

GOD EXTENDS HIS LOVE TO EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD….

BUT ONLY THOSE WHO RECEIVE HIS SON TAKE IN HIS LOVE!!!!

IT IS EXACTLY LIKE GIFT GIVING AT CHRISTMAS OR ON A BIRTHDAY!!!

SOMEONE CAN WRAP A PRESENT AND GIVE IT TO YOU….

BUT ONLY WHEN YOU TAKE IT…..AND OPEN IT IS IT REALLY YOURS!!!!!

ACCEPTING JESUS INTO YOUR HEART IS THE ONLY WAY TO RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE!!!

UNTIL PEOPLE RECEIVE JESUS….THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED GOD’S LOVE!!!!!

AND THIS TRUTH ALSO DEFINES HOW WE EXPRESS OUR LOVE TO GOD!!!!

THE PRIMARY WAY IN WHICH WE LOVE GOD IS TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT HIS LOVE FOR US!!!!

HIS LOVE IS ALWAYS FIRST!!!!

OUR ROLE IS NOT TO GENERATE LOVE FOR HIM OR TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO SHOW OUR LOVE!!!!!

THE GREATNESS OF HIS LOVE HAS ARRANGED FOR US TO SIMPLY EMBRACE HIS LOVE!!!!

IT’S LIKE BEING INVITED TO A DINNER PARTY…..

OUR HOST WANTS US TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION AND COME…….PERIOD!!!!!

(NOT…..WELL LET ME BRING SOMETHING)

JESUS TELLS A PARABLE OF A GREAT WEDDING BANQUET THAT WAS TO BE HOSTED BY A NOBLEMAN   (MATTHEW 22:1-14) {READ FROM MESSAGE}

HE INVITED EVERYONE ON HIS CAREFULLY PREPARED GUEST LIST….

BUT MOST OF THEM WERE TOO BUSY WITH OTHER THINGS TO WANT TO ATTEND!!!!

SO HE GOT OUT THE WORD THAT ANYONE AND EVERYONE WAS WELCOME TO COME AND ENJOY THE CELEBRATION!!!

PEOPLE FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE AND EVERY SOCIAL STRATUM SHOWED UP ON THE BIG DAY!!!

BUT ONE GUEST WAS DRESSED IN APPROPRIATELY FOR A WEDDING!!!

AND HE WAS KICKED OUT!!!!

JESUS MADE SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT POINTS WITH THIS STORY!!!

NONE OF THE WEDDING GUESTS HAD EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE THERE!!

BUT EVERYONE WAS WELCOMED……..NO ONE WAS TURNED AWAY!!!

THESE SAME PRINCIPLES APPLY TO THE GREAT MARRIAGE FEAST OF CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE (THAT’S US BY THE WAY).

WE HAVE ALL BEEN INVITED…..ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ACCEPT THE FREE……

FREE INVITATION – AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A SPECIAL OCCASION BY THE CLOTHES WE WEAR!!!!!

(BY THE WAY…….DO YOU Want TO KNOW WHAT THE CLOTHES ARE……

READ ISA 61:10)

OUT NATURAL INCLINATIONS WILL LEAD US TO WANT TO DO THINGS FOR GOD

JUST TO PROVE HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM…….OR HOW MUCH WE ARE WORTHY OF HIS LOVE TOWARD US!!!!

IN AND OF ITSELF…THAT IS NOT WRONG….

BUT IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL WE CAN FALL INTO A SUBTLE TRAP THAT WILL MAKE US FEEL UNWORTHY OF HIS LOVE!!!

IT IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE…..EVEN DESIRABLE….TO SEND A THANK-YOU NOTE IN APPRECIATION FOR THE LOVELY DINNER!!!!

BUT IF…..TO SOMEHOW PROVE WE ARE CURRENTLY WORTHY TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO DINNER…..WE START TO FOCUS ON ALL THE THINGS WE KNOW WE SHOULD BE…..

AND ARE NOT…….DOING FOR GOD……WE HAVE THEN MISSED THE WHOLE POINT!!!!

WE WILL FEEL CONDEMNATION EVERY SINGLE TIME WE GET CONFUSED ABOUT HOW OUR LOVE EXPRESSES ITSELF TO GOD!!!

ALL WE CAN EVER DO FOR GOD IS TO RECEIVE AND TO ACCEPT HIS LOVE FOR US!!!!

WHENEVER WE TRY TO DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR HIM THAN JUST TO RESPOND WITH THANKFULNESS FOR HOW HE HAS FIRST LOVED US….

THEN WE SET OURSELVES UP FOR TROUBLE!!!!

PRIDE WILL MASQUERADE AS LOVE – SUGGESTING THAT WE CAN….AND SHOULD ….BE ON EQUAL TERMS WITH GOD…….

DOING FOR HIM AS HE DOES FOR US!!!!!!!

AND LISTEN DEAR ONE….

BEING ON EQUAL TERMS WITH GOD IS AS IMPOSSIBLE AS AN ADOPTED DAUGHTER’S WANTING TO ADOPT HER NEW PARENTS!!!!

THE EMOTIONS OF GRATITUDE AND JOY ARE UNDERSTANDABLE…..AND COMPLETELY FITTING……

AS A RESPONSE TO HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS STEPPING INTO HER LIFE WITH LOVE AND PROVISION….

THE LITTLE GIRL OR BOY WANTS TO RETURN LOVE IN LIKE FASHION.

BUT THE PARENTS HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED THE ADOPTION!!!!

WHEN WE ADOPT SOMEONE AS OUR OWN….

WE ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR THAT PERSON!!!!

ADOPTION IS AN ACT DONE BY THE PROVIDER AND CAREGIVER……

NOT BY THE ONE WHO WILL RECEIVE THAT CARE AND PROVISION!!!!

NOW….HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM AGAIN!!!!

GOD HAS ADOPTED YOU!!!!!!

YOU’RE ADOPTED!!!!!

EVERYONE OF YOU IN THIS ROOM ARE ADOPTED!!!!!

ACCORDING TO THE KINDNESS AND AFFECTION IN HIS HEART FOR ALL PEOPLE…..

HE MADE A WAY FOR US TO HAVE PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!!!!

GOD HAS ONLY ONE BEGOTTEN SON!!!!

THAT’S JESUS

BUT HE ADOPTS ANY AND EVERY PERSON WHO WANTS TO BECOME A PART OF HIS ETERNAL FAMILY!!!

THE ADOPTION IS NOT ON THE BASIS OF HOW GOOD WE ARE OR HOW WELL BEHAVED WE HAVE BEEN AT THE ORPHANAGE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS…….

WE ARE NOT ADOPTED AS A REWARD FOR HOW WELL WE FOLLOWED THE RULES OF THE ORPHANGE!!!!!

GOD CHOSE YOU AND ME SIMPLY BEC HE DELIGHTS IN US.  HE WANTS US IN HIS FAMILY!!!!!

AND THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THE RULES OF THE ORPHANAGE NO LONGER HAVE ANY BEARING ON OUR STANDING ONCE WE BEGIN LIVING IN OUR NEW HOME!!!!

CHILDREN DO THINGS THEY SHOULD NOT DO……BUT THEY DO NOT LOSE THEIR FAIMLY IDENTITY!!!!

REGARDLESS OF ALL THE WRONG CHOICES….AND MISTAKES CHILDREN MAKE…….

MOTHERS AND FATHERS STILL CONSIDER THAT CHILD A SON OR DAUGHTER!!!!!

(read 1 John 4:17-18)

FROM NOW ON WE ARE ADDRESSED AS CHILDREN IN GOD’S HOUSEHOLD.  THIS TIES BACK IN WITH RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND TH LOVE OF GOD!!!!

GOD EXTENDS HIS LOVING GIFT OF ADOPTION; AND WE RESPOND TO HIS OFFER BY WELCOMING JESUS INTO OUR LIVES!!!

JESUS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD…..HAS INVITED US INTO HIS LIFE AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!!!

WE BECOME PART OF HIS FAMILY WHEN WE RECEIVE HIM INTO OUR LIFE!!!!

HE EVEN GOES SO FAR AS TO GIVE US HIS NAME TO USE WHENEVER WE PRAY…..

OR ARE IN NEED….

OR OUR FIGHTING OUR MUTUAL ENEMY!!!!

AND LISTEN…….CAN I SAY THIS ABOUT SOMETHING WE ALL DEAL WITH AND THAT’S FEAR!….

GOD WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE FEAR OF PUNISHMENT FROM OUR LIVES!!!!

HIS LOVE DEOSN’T JUST REDUCE OUR SENTENCE…….IT REMOVES IT!!!

HE DOESN’T CHANGE A FELONY TO A MISDEMEANOR……..HE COMPLETELY WIPES AWAY THE OFFENSE FROM OUR RECORD!!!!

THINK OF IT THIS WAY…..

ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT…….THE VIDEO OF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WILL HAVE BEEN EDITED  WITH LOVE AND FORGIVENESS……

AND THE RESULTS ARE THAT WHAT WAS ONCE AN X RATED VIDEO OF SIN AND VIOLENCE…..AND SEXUAL IMPURITY…….AND LEWDNESS……..AND DRUNKEDNESS……..

AND ADULT THEMES…….

AND FOR MOST OF US …….THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE A LONG VIDEO…..

YOU MIGHT EVEN GET A COUPLE OF INTERMISSIONS WITH IT BEC IT’S SO LONG……

BUT AFTER HIS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS IS APPLIED………THE RESULTING VERSION OF THE VIDEO WILL BE SHORTER THAN THE ORIGINAL……

AND IT WILL BE RATED CLEANER THAN “G” FOR ALL AUDIENCES!!!!!

NOW…

HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS LOVE – BUT NOT A SWAGGERING BRAVADO THAT SAYS….”HEY….MY DAD IS GOD…..SO I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT WITH IMPUNITY”!!!!

NO!!!

AS YOU SINCERELY TRY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE IN THE LORD………(AND FAIL TO LIVE IT PERFECTLY) …..HE WANTS YOU TO RELY ON HIS LOVE TO COVER ALL YOUR SHORTCOMINGS!!!!

THE LONGER YOU WALK WITH GOD…..AND MATURE IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF HIM…

THE MORE YOU WILL STAND IN AWE OF HIS LOVE AND THE LESS YOU WILL WORRY ABOUT GETTING INTO TROUBLE!!!!!

NOW…

WHAT DOES THIS TRUE LOVE LOOK LIKE??

WELLL….I’M GLAD YOU ASKED…!!!!

TRUE LOVE IS LIKE A MULTIFACTED GEMSTONE……CUT AND POLISHED TO RADIATE GOD’S SPLENDOR IN EVERY IMAGINABLE SITUATION…..AND FROM COUNTLESS DIFFERENT ANGLES!!!!

GOD’S LOVE IS NOT GENERATED BY ANYTHING IN US…..IT SIMPLY AND ALWAYS IS THE WAY THAT IT IS!!!!

A TOURIST LANDING IN HAWAII DOESN’T EXPECT TO AFFECT THE WEATHER………

THE TOURIST JUST PLANS TO ENJOY IT!!!

GOD’S LOVE IS A PREVAILING CONDITION LIKE THAT!!!!

AND BEC HE LOVES US…..AND BEC HE IS ALWAYS THE SAME…..

GOD IS CONSTANT IN HOW HE ACTS TOWARD US AND IN HOW HE THINGS ABOUT US!!!!

LOVE ALWAYS EXPRESSES ITSELF IN ACTIONS!!!

SO ….HOW DOES GOD’S LOVE CAUSE HIM TO BEHAVE TOWARD US????

WHAT RESPONSES SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM A LOVING GOD, AS OPPOSED TO AND UNLOVING GOD?

WHAT IS HIS DISPOSITION TOWARD US?

WHAT MANNER WILL HE TAKE IN DEALING WITH YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE???

LOOK AT FIRST CORINTIANS 13:4-7…..

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE….

TALKS A LOT ABOUT THE TRUE NATURE OF AGAPE LOVE!!!

BY EXPANDING THE SINGLE WORDS USED TO DEFINE LOVE IN THESE VERSES……

YOU CAN ARRIVE AT A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF JUST HOW MAGNIFICENT THE LORD’S LOVE IS FOR EACH OF US!!!!

GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU IS ALWAYS:

PATIENT (LONG-SPIRITED AND NOT SHORT-TEMPERED).  GOD PATIENTLY CONTINUES TO CARE FOR AND ABOUT US THROUGHOUT ALL THE EYARS.  HE REFRAINS FROM ENFORCING THE RIGHTFUL CONSEQUENCES WE DESERVE FOR OUR BEHAVIOR. 

IN FACT….WHEN WE ARE SURE THAT WE HAVE ‘REALLY DONE IT NOW”  AND THAT WE ARE ‘REALLY GOING TO CATCH IT NOW’   GOD WILL KEEP SURPRISING US WITH HIS MERCY!!!

EVEN WHEN WE RUN OUT OF PATIENCE OURSELVES, HE HAS LOTS AND LOTS OF PATIENCE LEFT!!!!

KIND (USEFULLY HELPFUL, NOT REMOVED FROM OUR REAL LIVES)    GOD ALWAYS THINKS ABOUT WHAT WOULD MOST BENEFIT US IN EACH SITUATION AND HE GEARS HIS ACTIVITIES TOWARD BEING OF SERVICE TO US IN VERY PRACTICAL WAYS!!!

HE WORKS TO PUT US AT AN ADVANTAGE IN LIFE!!!

HE KEEPS PERFORMING “LITTLE KINDNESSES”  FOR US….DOING FAVORS AND MAKING THINGS WORK OUT THAT WOULDN’T WORK OUT OTHERWISE!!!

SINCE HE CARE ABOUT THE DAILY NEEDS OF OUR LIFE….HE CLOTHES AND FEEDS US IN KINDNESS

NOT JEALOUS (CONTENTEDLY GENEROUS…NOT ANXIOUS ABOUT GETTING ANYTHING FOR HIMSELF)……BEC GOD HAS EVERYTHING AND IS TOTALLY COMPLETE IN WHO AND WHAT HE IS……HE HAS NO THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT HE MIGHT BE LOSING OR MISSING BY CONTINUOUSLY GIVING US WHAT WE LACK!!!

HE IS NOT STINGY……MISERLY…..OR JEALOUS OF THE GOOD HE DOES FOR US!!!!

ENVY DOES NOT CLOUD HIS VIISON AS IT DOES OURS……AND HE NEVER DRAWS BACK FROM GIVING TO US BEC “IT IS ABOUT TIME” WE GAVE TO HIM!!!!

NOT BOASTFUL (PROMOTING US….NOT HIMSELF)    AS THE ALMIGHTY ……AND THE LORD OF LORDS…….GOD HAS NO NEED TO BOAST OR TO SECURE HIS OWN POSITION!!!

OVER AND OVER AGAIN……HE ACTS AS OUR ADVOCATE …..TO ADVANTAGE AND AID US …..AND TO ELEVATE OUR STANDING IN LIFE!!!

HIS NOTION OF TRUE GREATNESS……

OF HAVING THE TOP SPOT IN THE COSMOS………IS TO SERVE AND DO FOR OTHERS!!!!

HE DOESN’T JUST BOAST OF HIS GREATNESS….BUT HE USES IT FOR US AND ALLOWS US TO DISCOVER HOW GREAT HE IS THROUGH WHAT HE DOES    (MATTHEW 23:11-12)

NOT ARROGANT (GENTLY THOUGHTFUL, NOT OVERBEARING)….   HE USES HIS PREEMINENT PLACE AND POWER IN THE COSMOS….

HIS MAGNIFICENT AND STATELY MAJESTY……NOT TO REMAIN DISTANT FROM US OR HAUGHTY……

BUT TO GIVE US DIGNITY….

SELF ESTEEM……..AND VALUE THROUGH HIS ATTENTION!!!

HE IS NOT ARROGANT OF ALOOF!!!

INSTEAD……HE BENDS DOWN ……..STOOPING THE WAY AN ADULT DOES TO SPEAK KINDLY WITH A CHILD, IN ORDER TO RELATE TO US ON OUR LEVEL!!!!

HE COMES INTO YOUR WORLD AND MINE EVEN THOUGH WE AND GOD LIVE WORLDS APART!!!!

NOT UNBECOMING (SEEMLY IN BEHAVIOR, NOT ODD)   GOD ALWAYS DOES WHAT FITS BEST AND WORKS MOST PERFECTLY FOR ALL THE UNIQUE SITUATIONS IN OUR LIVES!!!

HOW HE EXPRESSES HIS LOVE FOR US WILL NEVER CAUSE US EMBARRASSMENT!!!

HE IS SUPERNATURAL……NOT WEIRD

HE OFFERS US SOUNDNESS OF MIND AND HEART…

NOT STRANGENESS!!!!

NOT SELFISH (GENEROUS….NOT SELF-SEEKING)     THE LORD DOES NOT LOVE US FOR WHAT HE CAN GET OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP…..

HE LOVES US FOR WHAT HE KNOWS HE CAN GIVE TO US!!!

HE DOES NOT SEEK WHAT WORKS BEST FOR HIM….

BUT HE OPTS FOR WHAT WORKS BEST FOR US!!!

HE IS LIKE A MATH MAJOR IN COLLEGE OFFERING TO HELP A FOURTH GRADER….WITH AN ARITHETIC ASSIGNMENT!!…..

OTHER THAN THE SIPLE PLEASURE OF DOING SOMETHING FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER…..THERE IS NO POSSIBLE BENEFIT!!!

NOT PROVOKED (STEADILY PATIENT….NOT EASILY EXASPERATED)

ALTHOUGH GOD’S WRATH COME OUT AGAINST SIN……WHICH RUINS THE LIVES OF HIS CHILDREN…..

HE IS NEVER EXASPERATED WITH US!!!!

HE NEVER GETS PUSHED TO THE BRINK OR OVER THE EDGE BY WHAT WE DO!!!!!

SOONER OR LATER….WE EXPECT HIM TO SAY….”THAT’S IT!!!…I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOU”!!!!

IF WE HAD EARTHLY FATHERS WHO FLEW INTO RAGES…….WE IMAGINE THAT GOD IS GOING TO BECOME ANNOYNED AND OUTRAGED AND THAT HE WILL COME DOWN ON US….WITH LIGHTNING FLASHING……..BUT HE WONT!!!

NOT EVER!!!!!

FORGIVING (FORGETFUL, NOT MINDFUL OF WRONGS)   GOD DOES NOT DWELL ON THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE TO DISAPPOINT OR TO HURT HIM….

RATHER……HE CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSES TO SET THEM ASIDE SO THAT HIS HEART IS ONLY FILLED WITH PLEASANT MEMORIES OF US!!!

IN FACT……HE CASTS OUR SINS BEHIND HIS BACK WHERE HE CANNOT SEE THEM  (ISA 38:17)………..

SINCE WE ARE SO CONSCIOUS OF ALL THE TIMES WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR SINS TO HIM….

TO US IT ONLY SEEMS REASONABLE TO EXPECT HIM TO BRING THEM BACK UP TO US…….

BUT HE DOESN’T ……NOT EVER!!!!

RIGHTEOUS (FOCUSED ON GOOD….NOT BAD)    GOD HAS NO DELIGHT WHEN ANYTHING HURTFUL OR SAD HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES…….NOR DOES HE COMPUTE WITH SATISFACTION THAT THOSE TERRIBLE EVENTS ARE “JUST WHAT WE DESERVE”!!!

HE IS THRILLED BY EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, GOOD AND TRUE FOR US!!!

WE HUMANS FIND IT HARD NOT TO NOTICE THE BAD THINGS OTHERS DO!!!

THOUGH WE DO NOT WANT TO GET WHAT WE OUGHT TO GET…..WE CAN SEE HOW OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD!!!

GOD….ON THE OTHER HAND….CAUSES THE SUN TO SHINE ON EVERYONE……REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY DESERVE!!!!!

TRUTHFUL (MERCIFULLY COVERING….AND NOT UN-COVERING)    GOD KNOWS AND SEES EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES……

INCLUDING ALL OUR INNER THOUGHTS AND PAST BEHAVIOR….

BUT RATHER THAN BRINGING UP ALL THOSE EMBARRASSING REALITIES TIME AND TIME……..HE PUTS A ROOF OVER THEM AND COVERS THEM IN SILENCE!!!

IF ANYONE COULD BLOW THE WHISTLE AND UNCOVER US…….GOD CAN!!!

HOWEVER….THE TRUTH OF HIS LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF VIOLATIONS AND WRONGS IN OUR LIVES!!!  (I PETER 4:8)

HE DOES NOT HIDE THINGS TO KEEP THEM COVERED!!!

HE COVERS THINGS TO RELEASE US FROM THEIR SHAMING POWER!!!!

VULNERABLE (ENTRUSTING……NOT WITHHOLDING HIMSELF)     NO ONE HAS BEEN REJECTED MORE OFTEN OF MORE COMPLETELY THAN GOD HAS BEEN!!!

EVEN IN THE FACE OF HOW WE TURN AWAY FROM HIM OR REFUSE TO OPEN UP OUR HEARTS TO LISTEN TO HIM……

HE PUTS UP NO DEFENSES AGAINST US AND KNOWS WE WILL LIKELY REJECT HIM AGAIN!!!!

WE PUT HIM ON HOLD…

WE IGNORE HIM……

WE TELL HIM WE DO NOT WANT TO TALK TO HIM TODAY…..

AND STILL HE OFFERS HIMSELF TO US AND IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US WITHOUT REPROACH OR INDIGNATION!!!!

HOPEFUL (EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE)     GOD IS ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT FUTURE WITH US!!!

IN ANTICIPATION OF TIMES TO COME…….HE CONFIDES THINGS TO US ABOUT WHAT HE HAS IN MIND!!!

HIS LONG=RANGE THINKING NEVER LOSES SIGHT OF HAPPY DAYS AHEAD FOR US WITH HIM!!!

HE HAS PLANS FOR US AND OUR FUTURE!!!

THOSE PLANS ARE MEANT TO GIVE US SOMETHING HOPEFUL TO HOLD ONTO WHEN OUR CURRENT SITUATION IS PAINFUL!!!!

HE SAYS IN JEREMIAH….33:3…….”I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU THINGS YOU NEVER DREAMED OF “

ENDURING (SOLIDLY PERSISTING, NOT FRAIL UNDER PRESSURE)    GOD’S LOVE IS A ROCK SOLID FOUNDATION THAT IS SO STRONG…..

SO FORTIFIED……THAT IT OUTLASTS VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING ELSE IN LIFE!!!

IT CAN BEAR UP UNDER INCREDIBLE  LOADS OF JUNK   - THE STUFF THAT NORMALLY BREAKS RELATIONSHIPS!!!

NO ONE ON EARTH WOULD PUT UP WITH THE KIND OF GARBAGE WE HAVE THROWN GOD’S WAY…….

LIES…

BETRAYAL….

INCONSISTENCY…..

AND MUCH MORE!!!!

BUT UNDERNEATH ALL OF OUR DAYS….AND ALL OF OUR FOOLISHNESS…..HIS EVERLASTING ARMS LOCK US FIRMLY INTO A LOVING EMBRACE!!!!  (DUET 33:27)

UNFAILING (DETERMINEDLY FOCUSED – NOT ERRATIC)     GOD HAS SET HIMSELF UNSWERVINGLY ON THE COURSE OF LOVING US NOT MATTER WHAT WE DO!!!!

HIS INTENTION TO LOVE US THROUGH EVERYTHING….WILL NEVER DROP OFF OR FAIL!!!

HIS LOVE…..LIKE HIS EXISTENCE…..HAS NO END…..

IT IS EVERLASTING!!!!!!