Regardless of our sins.

God loves us no matter what. Israel continued to turn their back to God and He continued to love them.

“3the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 4Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.” – Isaiah 31:3-4 (ESV)

The word “again” is certainly telling in these verses. God displayed His wrath on Israel but “continued” to be faithful and love them, building them up to where He promised they would be. The full nation of Israel was not faithful at all times and God dealt with them as He promised. He also, proved His everlasting love to them.

If God takes this action with a nation, won’t He take that action with lowly me? I know that I disappoint God every day with my sin and I certainly do not deserve His continued love. He has every right to abandon me, but, He loves me too much. I have given myself to Him and He continues to love me with His everlasting love. God has a plan for me and will get me to the end of the journey, in due time. It is my duty to repent and know that my sins are forgiven each day. I the responsibility to live up to the love that God continues to heap on me.

When you disappoint God, do you recognize that God continues to love you? Are you prepared to take responsibility for your sin? Are you prepared for the love that God continues to have for you regardless of your sins?

Even when we don’t deserve it.

“9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” – Isaiah 63:9 (ESV)

God brought them back. God felt something for them and brought them back to his grace, even though it was they who turned away. What a continued example of God’s Love for us.

And they did again:

“10But the rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.” – Isaiah 63:10 (ESV)

We continue to turn away from God. I know that when I am in the position of providing and then having someone turn against me, I find it difficult to forgive and forget. But God, always remembers and picks us up.

“11Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people.” – Isaiah 63:11 (ESV)

There is of course more to the story, but what a great start. God remembers us and picks us up even when we actively rebel against him.

How are you rebelling against God? Do you deserve to be picked up? What about when others turn against us, are we able to pick them up? Are demonstrating the love of God in our lives as God demonstrates his love in our lives?

 

And He rewards for it.

“⁸For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. ⁹Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are and offspring the Lord has blessed.” – Isaiah 61:8-9 (ESV)

I tell you when I first read verse 8, I am perplexed. God hates injustice, then says that they will be rewarded (recompense) and a covenant will be made. I see a reward for wrong and covenant (binding promise) with as a good thing and therefore am a bit confused.

Until I read verses 7 & 9. God’s message is clearer here, at least to me. God is referring to his Children being wronged and he provides the reward and covenant to make it right (“⁸For I the Lord love justice”). As children of God, we are protected against the injustice of others. We are announced and presented as blessed. We receive our ultimate reward.

The ultimate reward is the part that we have to drive toward. Here on earth, we are simply passing through as we journey toward heaven. What happens against us here is just that, something that happens here, we are rewarded later for doing what is right. And the reward is greater than anything here.

We may be wronged here, but we should rest assured that God is going to “make it right”, in the right time. Those that are doing the wrong will be dealt with by God and we should not concern ourselves with that, only love all and give everyone the opportunity to receive the rewards of God’s salvation.

When wronged, are you holding onto the wrong or are you allowing God to deal with it? Where can we turn our focus to avoid the dangers of holding that grudge? Are we allowing God to “make it right” and reward, or are we trying to do it on our own?

Shouldn’t we take the same approach.

This may seem like a no brainer, but I have been in many a situation where I was wondering if God was still there with me because if he was, why would I be going through this.

“⁷For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. ⁸In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you says the Lord, your Redeemer. ⁹’This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. ¹⁰For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” – Isaiah 54:7-10 (ESV)

Even God has moments when he turns away. But, his love is always there. He never abandons us, he simply turns away, in some cases to avoid acting on his anger and disappointment. The key thing is that he always comes back because of his steadfast, everlasting love for us.

As I study, I am further deepening my understanding that God comes back to us in spite of our disobedience and sin. God never forgets the love he has for us. Why do we forget our love?

Do we really forget our love, or was it really ever there to begin with? I have realized that maybe some things I never really “loved” in the first place. Think about that “Stretch Armstrong” action figure, or that “Barbie Dream House” you got for Christmas once, you just “loved” it. We may have “loved” it, however did we have everlasting, steadfast love for it? If that item we love breaks or disappoints us in some way, do we come back to it and care for it, provide for it? Do we give up on it?

God’s love for us is something that he never forgets and indicated by the type of love, everlasting and steadfast. We as humans throw around the word love, I believe, to casually. Maybe because we are not sure what to say otherwise. Remembering that God’s love is eternal should be an indicator of the type of love we should use in our own lives. Family is different than a “Barbie Dream House”, right? God will always be there for us, even if he turns away for a bit.

Are we able to look past the disappointments and come back with love? Do we forgive and forget the disobedience? Are we displaying everlasting and steadfast love, or using the word love too casually? What would our lives look like if we were to act with Godly Love at all times?

The power and value of love.

I recall instances of a “genie in a bottle” where the genie is released and grants three (3) wishes. One of the stipulations is always that the genie is unable to make someone fall in love with the wisher.

“⁷Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” – Song of Solomon 8:7 (ESV)

Notice the power and value of love in the verse above? Knowing that love is powerful is one thing but for me, seeing it written down is another thing. When I think of quenching something, I imagine fire or thirst and ultimately both can be overcome, but love not chance. It is truly unquenchable. Thinking back to the genie, it is impossible to influence love.

Monetary value cannot be placed on love. You can’t buy it. And when you try, there is a disdain that comes along with it. Those around recognize the actions as superficial and lacking in genuine feeling. I have a pillow that was sewn by my grandmother. It is really nothing special and not worth anything monetarily, but there is no amount of money that you can give me for that pillow, and I am not a sentimental person. Imagine something in your life that you would never be able to sell. Love is greater than that.

Seeing the power and value of love written down is a great reminder that love is given and should be cherished. Once received, it cannot be quenched.

What is your take on love? Have you placed a value on love? Have you embraced its power or trying to push it away? Do you recognize the power and value of love?

How is it that we display our love?

“⁴He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” – Song of Solomon 2:4 (ESV)

Here the girl recognizes the love displayed by the boy as a “banner”. When I think of a banner, I think of a big sign declaring something that should be revered or there to grab attention. A “banner” of love would be something that would be visible to all and something that would certainly attract attention.

Imagine the banner we wave when we display the love of Christ. We are showing outwardly that we understand the need for the outward affection. Opening doors, saying please/thank you, comforting those in need, helping others grow, teaching those around us, providing help for others, being the example of Christ in our speech and actions. These are all ways to outwardly display our love.

Here’s the part we have to remember; why are we doing these things. We are children of God and as such, we have a responsibility to display our love. Whether to those close to us, or those we do not know.

I know that I have wandered away from the common thoughts of what Song of Solomon is referring, however think of Christ and his church. Christ loved the church and was an example to how we are to love. I wonder how much different the world would be if we loved those around us as Christ love the church.

What creative ways can we show our love? I wonder, what would happen if we literally carried a banner of love? How can we display our love?

Where are we giving our love?

“⁹Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. ¹⁰Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. ¹¹Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.” – Ecclesiastes 9:9-11 (ESV)

We are living in a failing world. As Christians, we know that our glory is in heaven, not here in the world. We have to give our love to the things that matter here on this earth. But, where is that?

Solomon is reminding us that life is not fair. In verse 11 he again indicates that it does not matter who or what you are, no one is guaranteed or kept from anything. We have to enjoy what it is we have. Sometimes what we have is great, like winning the race or plenty of money, and other times we just have bread and knowledge.

Giving our love to that which we have and striving for favor with God should be our goal. Contentment again is important to remember.

“¹¹Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” – Philippians 4:11 (ESV)

Paul, reminds us to be content with whatever situation we find ourselves. We need only rely on God for getting us through.

When we are loving what is in front of us, we can get through it all and be content with what is there. Whether greatness or simplicity. We are to love what it there in that time.

Are you intent on great things or content with what is there? What are you seeking, God or greatness? Where are you giving your love?

How we act when angered matters.

“¹⁹Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” – James 1:19-20

We, as man, have anger. That anger is not channeled appropriately, not is it Godly at all. Our typical anger is caused when we are “hurt” by others and is very selfish.

How did you feel the last time you were not heard? You were in a group of people and everyone seemed to be ignoring you. You speak and then someone else takes over the conversation. You offer something and the group looks away to another person with that dominating personality. I know that when that happens to me, I feel small and insignificant, “I don’t matter”, “I have no voice” and frankly I get angry.

As a read God’s Word, I am realizing that my anger is not righteous. You see, I do matter, TO GOD! I should not be distracted by lack of acceptance in groups of man, for my focus should stay with and on God. I have been a part of the love and actions of God and it is amazing. You see, I was having some difficulties with some people I interact with. I was being ignored and treated with what I considered disrespect (notice it was “I” that “felt” that way). After some time (2 years) there were some changes that occurred in the group and I was made aware that it was difficult for the group to understand how I was able to keep it all together based on the way I was treated. I was apparently admired, after the fact for the attitude I had in the moments.

I thought I was failing, when actually God was winning. I was different and that difference was Christ. I chose not to act on the anger I was feeling and did my best to only display the love of Christ (although I did not feel as though I was doing well at all).

We have a choice to act with love or anger. Our choice will impact others, even if we do not see it. I was encouraged to keep on acting out of love and God continues to triumph. It is not us that wins, our egos don’t matter. God wins when we suppress our selfish anger and act with love.

Will you act on the anger you feel? Or, will you be the one that “turns the other cheek” and acts in love? Who is winning in your life, you or GOD?

When we pray, we pray for all. In good times and bad times, pray for all.

“¹First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2

As I read this morning, God drew me to this part of the passage. We are to pray for all, not something new or exciting or profound in and of itself. Where the profoundness for me came was in the commentary that I read regarding the verses.

Verse 1 is pretty understandable, I am looking and focused on verse 2 this morning. “For kings”, those “in high positions” is how the verse leads. We are to pray for those in authority, nothing new there, but when? My New International Version (NIV) has some commentary surrounding verse 2 that I would like to add here:

“When our lives are going along peacefully and quietly, it is difficult to remember to pray for those in authority, because we often take good government for granted. It’s easier to remember to pray when we experience problems. But we should pray for those in authority around the world so that their societies will be conducive to the spread of the gospel.”

Notice that prayer in good times and bad, and the last sentence is such a great part to explain the reason for our prayer. I myself fall into the traps of praying more urgently when things are not going well and when they are ok, I miss out on the opportunity to lift up “kings and all who are in high positions”.

I have to remember that our prayer is powerful and, IT WORKS.

“¹⁶…The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” – James 5:16

When you pray, are you using your power in prosperous times just as you are in difficult ones? Do we pray for all, and I mean all? I wonder, do we remember to pray for the “spread of the gospel”? What does your prayer look like?

We have a new self.

“¹If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not things that are on earth…¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:1-2 & 17

Paul points out that we should be focused on Christ and where he is now, as that is where we are preparing to be as children of God. Which brings me to the question: Why would I be concerned with things of this earth? When we are following God as we should, we should not want for any of our needs, for God will provide our needs here.

I know that I get caught up in the desires of the world: a nice house, couldn’t we use a newer car, what about newer clothing, and the ability to provide new for the boys. I have to put all of that behind me and move forward on my journey to be with Christ. I have a responsibility to be an example of Christ here on earth. I have to do my part to run toward Christ and away from the sins of the world.

We are human and therefore everything but perfect, however we should be striving to be more like him each and every day while still here on earth. When we accepted Christ as our personal savior, we were given a new self and we should be wearing that new self in the world for all to see.

Are you working to bring glory to God? Are you leaving the things of this world behind and putting on the new self that was given to you by God? Are you being an example of God daily?