Everlasting love

The very first lie ever told was not a brazen statement, but a suggestion. When the serpent (Satan in disguise) came to Eve, he tempted her by insinuating that God had forbidden the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil because He didn’t want the best for her. In other words, God did not love her.

Satan’s tactics haven’t changed much. If he can persuade anyone that God does not love them or want the best for them, then he has them. They will never trust a God that does not care.

The most heart-rending example is that of people who have been abused by their earthly father. Even the word father makes them cringe. Because of this horrible treatment, they cannot believe that any heavenly Father cares about them.

If a man cheats on his wife, no matter how much he apologizes, tries to prove himself and win her back, she will think that he does not love her and perhaps never has. This sense of being unloved takes a large chunk out of her ability to trust him.

If a parent tells a child that a visit to the dentist will not hurt and the visit does hurt, the child may forget eventually, but something happens in that little one’s heart. Trust becomes more difficult because being loved and giving trust goes together.

Today’s devotional verse is from an Old Testament book about the love between a man and a woman. Some compare this to the love of Christ for His bride, the church. The verse is the response of the people to this lover.

We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will remember your love more than wine. (Song of Solomon 1:4)

Spurgeon uses this verse to affirm that You will not let Your people forget that You love us. Your love was proved when You sent Jesus, proved when Jesus died for my sin, proved when You raised Him from the dead. Your Word tells me over and over that You love me. Obviously You do not want me to forget.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39)

Satan still tries. When things don’t go well, he whispers that You don’t love me. When people mistreat me, he whispers that God’s love is gone. But he is wrong, a liar. I am sure of that.

Your love was established two thousand years ago when You sent Jesus. He now lives forever to intercede for me. No matter what the devil says, Your words are true and he is telling lies. No matter what else happens, Your love has been established and made sure. Because of Christ, nothing can separate me from Your love.

The LORD appeared to me from far away (and said), “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jeremiah 31:3).