As February arrives, displays of love saturates our world, with heart-shaped displays and the fragrance of many roses. From sweet chocolates to dreamy trips, expressions of love are plentiful. What does true love look like, and how long does it last? Let’s explore:
Jeremiah 31:3 – The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
Love and Hope for the Hopeless
Jeremiah Chapter 31 depicts hope amid despair, narrating the struggles of Israel and Judah who faced consequences for their sins. The magnitude of their sins, and the subsequent punishments, has caused pain, sorrow and suffering. Yet, within this relentless cycle, a refreshing reminder emerges, reminding them of the promises of the Lord from the past. In times of despair, just one appearance of God, or just one word from Him, can give us hope.
Corrected in Love
In moments of corrective discipline, it may be challenging to grasp that it stems from God’s profound love for us. Here the Lord is reminding Israel that though they’ve failed Him, He still loves them. King David’s life is a classic example of how God lovingly corrects someone who has strayed away. Even in God’s corrections, remember that He never withdraws His love from you.
Love Without Limits
We often hope that every human love is everlasting, yet even the most exemplary love is inherently temporal. In contrast, consider two important characteristics of God’s love:
- Beyond Time: God’s love transcends time, and it is not bound by time or calendar restrictions. One verse that summarizes that is Deuteronomy 7:9 which says: “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”
- Beyond Measure: Psalm 36:5 says Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. While human love is limited on how much it is reciprocated, God’s love is poured without measure.
Attracted By Love
Jeremiah 31:3 ends with: Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
In our world, countless tales resonate of individuals falling in love, captivated by the attraction to each other. God draws us to him with his utmost expression of love: Jesus.
Cost of Love
We tend to gauge how much people love us based on how much their gifts cost. In order to love us, God gave His only begotten Son Jesus, who emptied Himself of all His heavenly glory, and came down to die a gruesome death. That my friend, is the ultimate expression of love! No other love surpasses the divine love manifested in Jesus Christ
Life Application
As you gaze upon love’s many expressions around you, let Jesus be the ultimate beacon of love. Perhaps it’s loneliness, rejection, or life’s storms that have weighed you down. For some others it could be the negative health reports , or failures in life, that has left you depressed and exhausted. But rest assured that the unending love of God and his unchanging Hands are embracing you always!
Isaiah 53:3 points us to Jesus and calls Him “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” So, whatever you are going through, be assured that He’s been there, He knows, and He cares! So take heart and cheer up knowing that you are always loved!
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