“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22 NIV
God loves us. He reminds us of this over and over again throughout His word. We need Him now, more than ever.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 NIV
God had a choice how to respond to our sin. He could’ve just wiped out the world as we know it and all of its inhabitants, but instead He allowed His son to be crucified. He, and His son Christ Jesus, chose us.
Listen to what God showed Paul about us:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NIV
In times past, even when God allowed the disobedient to be overthrown, He spoke this through the prophet Jeremiah:
“If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have grieved concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you.” Jeremiah 42:10 NIV
The Lord was grieved over seeing His children suffering and lost. He cares about us so much! Why not call on Him now? If not Him, who? He is listening for our cries, for our prayers, and for our tears. He listens for our admissions of love for His son, our Lord, Christ Jesus.
We very well know we have no ability to change the outcome of events to come. His plan will not be thwarted. But there is always hope, and that hope has a name – Jesus.
It is written:
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27 NIV
We must remember how much He loves us, and how He is with us as tough times splash down upon us. As some say, spiritual war is upon us.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
Remember that no one can love us, as God has loved us. We cannot find the love He has given us anywhere else but in Him and our Lord Jesus. He sees all, and He sees us. We can be sure, now, that He hears us.
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Psalms 63:1 NIV
He loves us, and will see us through these times.
Praise Jesus always!
Barnabas
Special thanks to Barnabas for this guest submission.