The inescapable Love of God

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138

What is the purpose of God in my life, the life of my family, the life of my Church? Maybe I’m just at that stage of life where uncertainty is prevalent. But, the instability of our time has increased that uncertainty. What is not uncertain is that God is eternal love. That was the topic of prayer yesterday. God is Love. God wants to work his goodness in my life. He is determined to fulfill his purpose for me.

Many people have developed a calloused heart towards the goodness of God. While they may still attend regular worship services, they no longer believe in the unwavering love of God. They have “matured” in their thinking. They know that suffering and pain are part of the Christian life.

While we should not ignore the physical and mental suffering, even within the church, we do not need to give up on the goodness of God because of a lost job, sickness, or having suffered. Paul tells us clearly in Philippians that he longs to be united to the suffering of Christ. He says in Colossians that he is filling up in his body what was lacking in Christ’s sufferings. That may seem cryptic to us, but it’s as easy as saying that the Christian life isn’t going to be a bed of roses. Our bodies will suffer injury. But Paul refused to give up on the goodness of God simply because he had been beaten up and thrown in prison. (Something far worse than what many of us have experienced)

Paul understood that the goodness of God was bigger than his body feeling good and his bank account being full. It was bigger than where he was sleeping or eating. The goodness of God was pouring the message of Christ’s victory over sin and death through Paul. Even when he was in prison he saw that God’s goodness was extending to his captors.

We are praying for an increased understanding and reception of the ferocious love of God. God is interested in pouring his goodness out on you and through you. He is deeply concerned about making this happen. Let each one of us carefully search our hearts to make sure that we are really seeking the goodness of God and not simply the satisfaction of our own desires.

Seek His Face Always