The most important thing that every person on the planet needs whether they are aware of it or not, is to be loved. This need is inherently ingrained within all of us to know love in its fullest capacity. It’s the type of love that is patient, kind and thoughtful. It is not jealous or envious, nor is it proud or arrogant. It is not rude or self-seeking and does not make a record of wrongs. This type of love that we all long for rejoices in truth and bears all things. It believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. This love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Jesus is that love and He chooses to love us even when we don’t love Him back. Everyday He loves us whether we ignore Him or not. Whether we are too busy, choose to go our own way, or turn away from His love completely. He loves us regardless and He promises to never ever stop.
I love the stories that Jesus told to describe this love such as the story of the 100 sheep and the one, which went missing. The shepherd left the 99 other sheep to go look for just one lost sheep. When he found it he placed it on his shoulders and carried him home, calling all his friends and neighbours to celebrate that this one lost sheep had been found. Jesus explained that is how it is with each person who responds to His love. Even when there are 99 righteous, godly people who know Him the whole of heaven stops and rejoices when one person who is lost and far from God responds to His love and comes home and into relationship with Him. (Matthew 18:12-14)
Or the story of The prodigal son who asked for his Father’s inheritance early so He could leave home to do what he wanted only to squander and waste it all. His father stood out on the road every day watching for his lost son to come home, (just as God stands watches and waiting for us,) and when he did return instead of judging or dealing with Him harshly He welcomed him with open arms, placed a new robe on His shoulders, a ring on his finger and threw a party to celebrate the return of his son. (Luke 15:11-32)
Unfortunately the devil has sold the world a lie that God is all about judgment, condemnation and out to kill our joy, and that He doesn’t really love us. However nothing could be further from the truth for God’s love is real, compassionate, long suffering, patient and consistent. It never runs out, it never fails and it always welcomes us with open arms. Jesus displayed this love when He left heaven to come to earth as a man. He chose to die for us to remove the stain and power of sin and death from our lives once and for all and to show the world what real love looked like. It’s a love that dies for us even when we don’t deserve it; the love that heals the sick, cleanses the lepers, raises the dead and loves the unlovable.
Today if you are feeling far from that love or you just need to know you are loved I encourage you to come to Him and allow His love to wash away your hurt, shame, fears and disappointment. Let Him lift you up on His shoulders so that He can carry you and show you that with Him by your side your future is bright.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, evenwhen we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1)
Have a listen to this song “Your love never fails” to encourage you today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_2qG22SPwU
Prayer: Lord thankyou for your love, which never fails. Please help me to know that love especially today. In Jesus name Amen.