I've been studying and reading a lot about God's love lately. I want a greater understanding of His perfect, unconditional love. The bible is jam-packed full of verses and chapters about His love, and that's what I'm blogging about today.
Last night as I was doing my bible time, I was finding all the excuses and reasons that I though somehow disqualified me from being loved by God. Like I've sinned too much, or am too much of a failure for God to really love me with the love that is written about in the bible. I felt as if God was speaking to my heart, and I wrote this 'poem.' It's called, "I Love You Anyway."
So you're weak and can't take one step on your own.
It's ok, I love you anyway.
You think you're greedy. Always desiring the newest, the best, and the greatest that this world has to offer, without remembering what truly makes you valuable. You are my child.
I love you anyway.
You think you don't do enough good things, or follow enough rules to impress me.
It's ok. I love you anyway.
You say you aren't talented enough to do anything for my glory.
It's ok, I love you anyway.
You believe you're a failure. Always giving into temptation, choosing the easy way over the righteous way.
That's ok. I love you anyway.
You don't think your testimony is captivating, amusing, or unusually dazzling enough to share.
That's ok. I still love anyway.
You doubt my love, you choose to believe, follow, or trust a human you can see who may be very wrong, over a God you can't see, but is always right.
I love you anyway.
We don't deserve God's love, we can never earn it. We don't have to be strong, or powerful. In fact, we must become weak before Jesus so that His power can be our power.
Everyone struggles with greed at some point, but I'm learning that the more we seek God, and grow in His love, the less we'll desire the emptiness of this world.
God knows that we're humans, we have finite minds, and it's so liberating to rest in the fact that God chooses the "weak and foolish" things of the world to shame the wise. God loves using broken people, it gives Him a chance to do what He does best. Heal. Not just us, but others around us.
I'm learning that we are all given talents. The amount of talent, and what the talent is, is not important. A humble heart that is willing to be used entirely for God and His glory is all that God wants.
God knows we're human, and that we sometimes give in to temptation. That's why He sent His son so that our sins can be remembered no more, if only we'll hand they over and let them be cast away.
God also knows that we doubt. Our worldly programmed eyes deceive us, and if we're not careful we can let ourselves get to the point where all we believe in is what we can see with our eyes. It is what is UNseen that lasts forever.
It's truly awesome to know that I know that I know that I know that I KNOW Jesus loves me. He doesn't despise me. I don't disgust Him. He's not angry with me. The more I seek Him, the more I find Him. The more I find Him, the more I love Him. The more I love Him, the more I realize that His love for me is not based on me, or what I do.
I can have the knowledge of God and not have a heart for Him at all. I can follow all the rules, trying to impress God or "earn" His forgiveness and love, but all He really wants is my heart.
What will it take for us to finally believe that good works, and human strength doesn't save us. We don't, and never will deserve God's love. All the good works in the world are microscopic when laid before our perfect savior.
So next time, when you're overwhelmed with your weaknesses and failures and short-comings. Just like I was the other night. Listen as your Father whispers to your heart.
"I love you anyway."
