Because He loves me

 
Today’s reading has this line: “Christ has made our hearts capable of this supreme overwhelming affection and has offered himself as the object of it. It is infinitely precious to Him. So much does He value it, that He has made it the first and chiefest of all His commandments that we should love Him with all our might and with all our strength.”

It explains that being loved is important to Him yet I keep hearing these words: “God loves me and wants me to respond by loving Him and doing His will because that is the the very best thing for me, not to please Him or make Him happy — trusting Him is for my sake.

John Piper even ties this to God’s responses to our cries. If He does not answer our prayers as we want, it is because He has wise and holy purposes. I need to trust Him because He knows what He is doing and all of what He is doing is for my good, even when it may not feel good at the time. This is the assurance that His love is worthy and I can love Him, not to make Him smile but to bring me to the very best I can be…

I know by loving God, all things work together for my good as one who is called  according to his purpose. He foreknew me and also predestined me to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that Jesus might be the firstborn among many brothers. He predestined me, then called me, justified me, even glorified me. What then shall I say to these things? If God is for me, who can be against me? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for me, how will he not also with him graciously give me all things? Who shall bring any charge against me? It is God who justifies. Who can condemn me? 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 me. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Even as He says that for His sake, I could be “killed all the day long; even regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things I am more than a conqueror through him who loved me. 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 me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord. (Romans 8:28–39, personalized)

It is for love that everything happens to me with purpose — to conform me to His image. There is no greater goal, no higher ambition. By loving Jesus, I can see His worth, His perfections, and the value of being like Him. Obedience is part of cooperating with His transforming power, but it is still His power not mine, and is motivated by His love for me.

At times I feel overwhelmed. To be loved by God? The Creator and sovereign ruler of the universe? Not because I am a pawn on His chessboard or needs me to love Him, but because He loves me? Mind-blowing!

PRAY: Jesus, I feel anything but lovable. There is nothing in me worthy of Your focus on transforming my life. I don’t even understand how You ‘use all things’ to that end, even my failures and resistance. Yet in my heart, I know it is true. Your love wants my love, and it is not to make You feel good; it is for my good. How precious to know this and to worship You.

God-given aspiration . . .

A person’s life is shaped by many things; genetics, environment, training, example, events, and so on. Tozer says in today’s devotional reading that this list includes the ideals that we admire. That is, we strive for that which we deeply aspire to. When asked, the hockey star wanted that from childhood. The doctor wanted that from the time he knew about doctors. The artist was drawing as soon as she could lift a pencil. The godly Christian wanted to be like Jesus. The more the Holy Spirit revealed Him, the deeper his desire became!

Tozer says a deep longing to be like Jesus greatly aids a Christlike life. He adds, “Ask God to give you a high conception of the character of Christ and an intense desire to be like Him and you will never rest until you reach your ideal.”

Upon reflection, I agree yet must add that this deep desire also comes from not being satisfied with the status quo, of wanting to be more than a sinner, more than a saved sinner, more than whatever I have been. While I know that the transformation is God’s work, I also know the importance of yielding in obedience, of willingly cooperating with God’s plans.

As for life-shaping things, it is good to think about them too. For me, it was good parents who loved me, a childhood illness, having horses, loving art, poor choices, divorce, remarriage, books, some very special people and so on, but most of all the Book of books — God’s Word, the power of God’s grace and the influence of His people. Learning the reality of how to live God’s way because of what He has done has greatly changed my life. I’m reflecting on Scripture that I love, such as this passage from the Old Testament: 

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1:1–6)

And this one from the New Testament:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 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 8:28–39)

My life has been drawn to Christ because of the joy and spiritual prosperity of walking with Him, and because of His presence with me through good and bad and His power to use both to shape me. His persistence to love me and stick with me no matter what is like a magnet. So also is His ability to slay the old ways and bring to power a new life. His grace has set this goal for me — to love Him and be like Jesus.

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Jesus, today is a day for thanksgiving, for being glad that You know the way that I take, the path that You have put me on, and that despite my stumbling, my many mistakes, and even my resistance, You will take me from this life into the next with grace, forgiveness, and a power that is totally beyond my feeble abilities and even greater than all my deepest desires.

The power of eternal love

Some of our friends are saying that world news is getting so bad that they are not watching it any longer. It is too depressing. One of them is going on a trip soon and is concerned about being in airports and on airplanes, particularly in her destinations because they have been hot spots for terrorists.

I suggested that the worst-case scenario is that God would take her home. Her face brightened. She laughed, but she said, “I’m not ready to go yet!” Even though she is spiritual ready because she believes in Jesus, she has a long to-do list and would rather die in bed.

We also talked about how many Christians become upset over sickness, accidents, and other life-threatening events, and how we should not — because we know Jesus. Isn’t seeing His face a greater priority than personal comfort? I realize this is easy to say, but much more difficult to live out. Fear of dying is common, even to those who do not fear death. We want to live a long life and be comfortable.

At the same time, I am convinced that knowing I’m in the will of God is better having my way about anything else. Knowing He loves me is even better than knowing I am totally safe. This explains why this passage of Scripture is a tremendous blessing every time I read it. God uses it to tell me that He loves me, that He uses all the events of life to conform me into the image of His Son, and that nothing can separate me from those wonderful truths.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 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 8:28–39)

God loves me in sickness and health, in comfort and in pain. He loves me enough to accept me as I am, but not leave me that way, always working to help me overcome sin. He will give me all I need because I am His child. Christ died for all my sin. Anyone who accuses me has no grounds because He has justified me.

Nothing can separate me from that love, including trouble, distress, persecution, famine, being without clothes or any other necessities, being in danger, or having threats made to my life. I am safe in His love now, and in the future, against all powers and anything else that exists. Because of this, there is nothing to fear. Life might hand me comforts or discomforts, but it cannot rob me of His love.

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Jesus, all I can say is that I love You because You first loved me.

A Tender Conscience?

For years, I justified my constant sense of guilt by saying I had a “tender conscience” but I now realize that I simply did not believe this plain statement in the Word of God:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

At one level, I knew it. I knew that I would go to heaven when I die. I just felt that God was never pleased with me and I had to try harder or He would frown. This is a lie from the pit, a device of Satan to put my focus on works instead of grace. Like the cart before the horse, a sense of ‘I must work hard to please God’ carries with it a load I could not pull. When grace takes the load, it becomes a light burden, a delight.

Of course, one of the enemy’s strategies is to make Christians think that his thoughts are their thoughts. In my case, I thought it was my mind and conscience, my heart condemning me, but God knows my heart. The Bible says, “God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.”

God knew my struggles. He knew this continually beating up of myself was not from Him. While He wants me to walk in obedience, He also wants me to walk in confidence, knowing Jesus bore it all and that forgiveness is total, complete, never to be reversed. To bring me to that place, He used a sequence of events that seemed disastrous, but He used them for good.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 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 8:28–39)

I’ve always loved this passage of Scripture. Early in my Christian life, God showed me the truth of the first two verses — that God would use everything to transform me into the likeness of His Son. What I see now is that in that process He also reinforced my understanding of the next verses — that nothing or no one can condemn me and nothing can separate me from His love. The Holy Spirit uses my conscience to convict me of specific wrong-doing that needs to be confessed and forsaken, but He is not hovering over me with a vague sense that I’m no good.

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Jesus, You died for me so I will not perish. You rose again for my justification so I a considered by God ‘just as if’ I never sinned. You are seated at God’s right hand, the place of One who has completed His work, a work that the Father has accepted because the One who offered it is sinless and perfect. You gave me Your perfection — I do not have to strive for it because all that You are is available to me through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am complete, my salvation is complete — because You are complete. Then, as icing on the cake or as an exclamation mark at the end of a glorious statement, You live forever to intercede for me. Even when I stumble, You are praying for my forgiveness and restoration. Because of Your prayers on my behalf, those lies behind my fears and guilt has been exposed, and You have assured me that there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in You!