49 - God's Endless Affection

"May you, having been deeply rooted and securely grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints God’s people the width and length and height and depth of His love fully experiencing that amazing, endless love." (Eph 3:17-18) "For I am convinced and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the unlimited love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38)

Most of us have lived our lives with earthly mothers and fathers, while many have had to go without. Some of us have experienced love and nurturing, while others have not. We often equate God's love with our human experiences, reflecting the worldly love we've grown accustomed to receiving. For some, having harsh earthly fathers means seeing our heavenly Father in the same light. If we've never experienced unconditional forgiveness, we might imagine God’s love to be conditional, keeping a record of wrongs. We may carry the burden of living up to our earthly parents' expectations, feeling the weight of never pleasing them, and assume God must feel the same way—always expecting more from us, never truly pleased.

We've felt the sting of not being recognized for our true worth, regardless of our achievements or failures. Yet, God doesn't remind us daily of our shortcomings; we remind ourselves because that is all we've ever known. But God's love is different. He doesn't keep a record of wrongs; His love is continually new. He does not see with temporal eyes but perceives our eternal worth as His beloved children. His mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness endures forever. Christ died for us so that we might be washed, made holy, righteous, and pure. He desires to dwell within us, to be near to us in every moment, through any trial or circumstance.

The love we have known on this earth is temporal and fading. It is not steadfast through all things, and faithfulness often extinguishes at the slightest offense. But this is not God's love. With God's love, we are not one moment in His graces and another moment out. His love is not based on our actions but on His character and His promises to us. We are saved through Christ, the free gift of God. Even when we let go of God, He never lets go of us.

The patience of worldly love runs thin. One minute we are in good graces, and the next, we are out. We must constantly prove ourselves worthy and maintain that worthiness unceasingly. God's love, however, is unceasing. It never wavers or loosens its hold on us. His love holds us tight and secure, and we can look to His love every moment of every day. Worldly love lacks understanding, and the good we do often seems never enough. It is an endless cycle of trying to meet the world's desires yet always falling short.

God, however, knows all things. He is deeply acquainted with every aspect of our lives, all our feelings, and all our hurts. He knows what is needed at every step and in the right measure. He knows what is best for us. We may feel misunderstood and invisible, ignored if we don't meet the world's expectations. The small and seemingly insignificant acts of love and faith are often overlooked by the world but cherished by God. He wants our hearts and sees our hearts. He values those small acts of love and faith that the world misses.

If we don't measure up to the world, we are forgotten. We don't receive the attention we desperately need because worldly love is contingent on our actions. Not so with God's love. Nothing can separate us from His love, and nothing diminishes it. We need to reconsider God's love. Are we measuring His love against the love of this world? Do we think His love is like the world's love?

God is love, and when we read about love in 1 Corinthians, we see a true reflection of His love for us:

"Love endures with patience and serenity; love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked nor overly sensitive and easily angered; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth when right and truth prevail. Love bears all things regardless of what comes, believes all things looking for the best in each one, hopes all things remaining steadfast during difficult times, endures all things without weakening. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

God is love, and this is His love for us and beyond. He has lifted us out of the miry pit and set our feet upon solid ground. He has washed us clean and continues to wash us clean. We have a standing, a position with God, unequal to anything in this world. Who we are now is far greater than anything we ever thought we were according to this world. What we thought we were according to this world is wrong; we are so much more. We are a holy and royal priesthood. We stand before God blameless. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed anything that would seem to tarnish His love for us. God sees us as His sons and daughters. Just as Jesus Christ is His Son, we too share in that same right. We are heirs and co-heirs with Christ. God has richly lavished upon us all His blessings, all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms through His Son. He holds nothing back.

This world's love holds no true meaning. We have been raised for so much more. God sees us in a new and glorious light. Can we fathom that new light, the way He looks at us? That view is grand and has great and unending depth. Today, let us understand His love—the width and length and height and depth of His amazing, endless love.