GOD’S RELENTLESS LOVE

It's safe to give ourselves up to God's love.  He created us out of love and His love is never wearied or worn out by our sins.  He is relentless in His pursuit of us and in His determination that one day we will be pure love, at whatever cost to us or to Himself.

"Good and upright is the Lord," the psalmist reminds us, "therefore He instructs sinners in His ways.  He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way" (Psalm 25:8-9, italics added).  The only requirement is humility and the patience to wait for His working.  God is not known for haste, but He does mean business. 

-- David Roper in “Growing Slowly Wise” 

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SALVATION HISTORY

“I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.”  (Psalm 119:174-176 NKJV)

The Bible is the record of those divine breakthroughs into human history. “God’s search for man,” it is described, rather than being our search for God. And its accents are considered a key for discerning the continuing divine activity in the present. Unlike most religious literature, it is not chiefly a collection of noble sayings, but a drumroll of events, people, struggles, great and terrible; of frailty, doubts, and heroism; of the ultimate might of right. Scripture isn’t meant as scientific exposition or as mere history. It is “salvation history,” a universal spiritual drama of an overarching compassion and concern for human integrity, of an unwavering love [on God’s part] that seeks an answering affirmation [on our part]. It is a vivid, sometimes parabolic account of God’s persistent, unrelenting quest for us and our stumbling, often faithless response. 

-- George Cornell in “The Untamed God”

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VIGOROUSLY PURSUING US

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”  (The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:20 NIV)

Our God is not patiently standing by and waiting for us to offer love; He is actively and vigorously pursuing us… He is the father running down the trail to embrace the prodigal son even before the boy can speak his act of contrition. He is the mad farmer showering a full day's wage on men who hadn't even worked. He is Jesus forgiving the sinful woman even before she spoke her sorrow. He is the king lavishing a banquet on beggars. These are all symbols of a God whose love for us is so active, so strong, that by human standards He would be at least, said to be mad. 

-- Andrew Greeley, quoted by Joni Eareckson Tada in “Glorious Intruder” 

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THE BIBLE IS ABOUT YOU

“So you see, our love for [God] comes as a result of His loving us first.”  (1 John 4:19 TLB)

The Bible is about you.  You can learn a tremendous amount about who you are, where you fit into the great plan, and how God wants you to lead your life.  In a sense, you were there as a slave in Egypt, and God rescued you (the book of Exodus).  You were there among the people who acted as though God was not their King and committed terrible atrocities because "everyone did as he saw fit" (Judges 21:25).  You were there at the Cross mocking Jesus, and you were there weeping and embracing Him when He rose from the grave.  In a sense, the whole story is about a loving God pursuing you.

-- Karen Lee-Thorp in “A Compact Guide to the Bible”


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