Posted 28 October 2014 - 07:29 AM
Kevin, brother, I wrote a reply to your post last night but it didn`t convey all I wanted to say, so I deleted it. This post probably won`t say everything I have in my heart about the subject of God`s love either, but maybe it will be a start. You are well versed in the Bible and you do a lot of reading, so I won`t even attempt to suggest any profound literature on the subject......except the Bible. I also cannot tell you about any sure way to get the assurance of God`s eternal love all the days of your life, even though it is there. I can only tell you what happened to me and the effect it has had.
I`m sure there are people out there who don`t have to get to the low point I came to for a revelation of God`s love to permeate my life and my soul, but I didn`t realize that I needed a personal relationship with the Lord. You see, I thought I already had one! When things hit bottom HARD, and you fall on your face utterly defeated, there is only one place to go....or else just lie there and die. Reading, singing, prayer groups, church services, and all those things ae good and I enjoy them, but a few hours alone with the Father, alone, on your belly, spilling your guts, telling Him that you need Him and His love, peace, and joy right now or you can`t move from that spot.....that did it for me. He said He would send a comforter....He did. God sacrificed Himself so that I could have the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. He did it once for all and He has completed His part. Now it is up to me to recieve His gift and the obvious love that comes with it. I know He loves me and loved me before I even knew about it....why? Because He says so and He proved it with a sacrificial death that did nothing for Him, but did everything for me. Yes, days still get hectic and complicated, but I rest upon the fact that I am God`s own righteousness through the work of His Son, and Paul stated so well....."the righteous shall live by faith". I have faith that God is as good as His word, and His word is that He loves me as His child, a member of His family, and a joint heir with His Son Jesus. Although I do some things that don`t please Him sometimes, His love never fails.....NEVER. I occasionally tell Him that I don`t desire such love and He says, "I know, but you have it anyway". When I screw up, I ask Him to please forgive me and He says...."I already have".
Kevin, I am your brother in Christ Jesus, and I can tell you beyond any shadow of doubt.....God loves you to an extent that is indescribable by mere man! He loves you every day, all day, even when you falter, even when you are confused about it. He loves you and has you in His hand....He has never lost even one that He holds in His hand. Be confident brother, thank Him every day, He has already done all that needs to be done.
Peace brother,
Charlie
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