relentless love.
I’ve been listening to a lot of music lately, and the song ‘Fierce’ by Jesus Culture had come up on many of my playlists, and I kept hearing it over and over again really thinking nothing of it other than that it was just the way the playlists were made, until a few days ago. When I opened my bible on Sunday I was taken to Luke, chapter 15:11-32 to be specific. The prodigal son story. I was confused at; first, I had read this story before and heard it at Sunday school and didn't know what the significance of it was at this time. As I read it, I realized how intensely God pursues us, just as the father ran back to the son when he returned home.
For anyone who knows me rather well, my general answer to ‘how are you?’ is usually ‘good’ even if things aren't good. I know people mean well, but I often find it easier to tell them I am good instead of explaining how I really am. When we push people away, sometimes they leave, or they don't care as much the next time, but not God. God is relentless in loving us and calling us and pursuing us. The story I didn't see the relevance to at this time brought me to the realization that God wasn't going to give up on me and my situation that He would see it through with me. Towards the end of the parable, the son realizes the sins he has committed and the wrong decisions he has made; he concludes that he is now no longer worthy of his father's love, or even to be his father's son. Which I think we all feel like at some point in time when we sin. We think we are too far gone, and that we can't be loved because of what we have done or even haven't done, but known we should have. When he sees his father, he is approached with open arms and so much love. The same way that God chases after us and opens his loving arms to us when we come running back to him. That is so cool. God’s love for us doesn't depend on what we do or don't do. How does that correlate with the song? Well, the bridge says ‘You chase me down, You seek me out, How can I be lost, When You have called me found’ it goes perfectly with the parable and the way God’s love for us is. Such a good reminder. The idea of God pursuing me and chasing me down so that he can love me blows me away.
It is comforting knowing how no matter how hard earthy love is, whether it be loving someone who is rude to you, learning to love yourself, or learning how to love another person, God’s love isn't like that. He loves us for us, and if we sin, He is still going to love us. He loves us without conditions or stipulations. Jesus had performed not a single miracle, and yet God was still said: "This is my Son, whom I love, and with him, I am well pleased.".
The idea of reversing the roles is an intriguing thought. That even though we will never be able to comprehend how continually God loves us wholeheartedly, we can still try to pursue Him and chase after Him the way He does us. Much harder to do than say, but such a goal to strive for. God chases us regardless of how far we run and how much sin we commit, He still wants us- how incredible. Psalm 139: 7-10 touches this a bit as well, saying how we can’t hide from God, He will search us out and find us no matter how far we run from him. We can't hide our sin from God nor can we physically hide from Him, regardless of how hard we try. His love for us is unconditional - He doesn't want us to sin but does want us to repent and come to Him when we do.
My prayer for myself is that I will continue to pursue and chase God, adamantly, the way He does me. That I continually will see how He loves me and in return try to love Him and love others the way He loves us. Relentlessly.
Spotify Playlist of the Week
https://open.spotify.com/user/denaebetcher/playlist/77RVyvOgaYnt32Gm0upPkC?si=yBusXj7UQImeDscTvFjRMg
For anyone who knows me rather well, my general answer to ‘how are you?’ is usually ‘good’ even if things aren't good. I know people mean well, but I often find it easier to tell them I am good instead of explaining how I really am. When we push people away, sometimes they leave, or they don't care as much the next time, but not God. God is relentless in loving us and calling us and pursuing us. The story I didn't see the relevance to at this time brought me to the realization that God wasn't going to give up on me and my situation that He would see it through with me. Towards the end of the parable, the son realizes the sins he has committed and the wrong decisions he has made; he concludes that he is now no longer worthy of his father's love, or even to be his father's son. Which I think we all feel like at some point in time when we sin. We think we are too far gone, and that we can't be loved because of what we have done or even haven't done, but known we should have. When he sees his father, he is approached with open arms and so much love. The same way that God chases after us and opens his loving arms to us when we come running back to him. That is so cool. God’s love for us doesn't depend on what we do or don't do. How does that correlate with the song? Well, the bridge says ‘You chase me down, You seek me out, How can I be lost, When You have called me found’ it goes perfectly with the parable and the way God’s love for us is. Such a good reminder. The idea of God pursuing me and chasing me down so that he can love me blows me away.
It is comforting knowing how no matter how hard earthy love is, whether it be loving someone who is rude to you, learning to love yourself, or learning how to love another person, God’s love isn't like that. He loves us for us, and if we sin, He is still going to love us. He loves us without conditions or stipulations. Jesus had performed not a single miracle, and yet God was still said: "This is my Son, whom I love, and with him, I am well pleased.".
The idea of reversing the roles is an intriguing thought. That even though we will never be able to comprehend how continually God loves us wholeheartedly, we can still try to pursue Him and chase after Him the way He does us. Much harder to do than say, but such a goal to strive for. God chases us regardless of how far we run and how much sin we commit, He still wants us- how incredible. Psalm 139: 7-10 touches this a bit as well, saying how we can’t hide from God, He will search us out and find us no matter how far we run from him. We can't hide our sin from God nor can we physically hide from Him, regardless of how hard we try. His love for us is unconditional - He doesn't want us to sin but does want us to repent and come to Him when we do.
My prayer for myself is that I will continue to pursue and chase God, adamantly, the way He does me. That I continually will see how He loves me and in return try to love Him and love others the way He loves us. Relentlessly.
Spotify Playlist of the Week
https://open.spotify.com/user/denaebetcher/playlist/77RVyvOgaYnt32Gm0upPkC?si=yBusXj7UQImeDscTvFjRMg
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