This Is Love

                                                                                                                                             

Aloha Dearest Family,

                In 1985, singer songwriter Julie Gold wrote a song called “From A Distance” which has been recorded by many artists. The message of the song is that if we look at the earth from a distance, it seems flawless and beautiful. From a distance we do not see the troubles and sadness that men and women experience in life. Also in the song are the words “God is watching us – from a distance.” These words have always rubbed me the wrong way because I know that my God isn’t watching us from a distance, but is a very personal God and loves to get involved in each of our lives. In Romans 8:28 it says that God is always at work on our behalf,

           “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” It sounds like God is very involved.

                In the Bible, no other Psalm portrays God’s personal involvement in our lives than does Psalm 139. In this Psalm, David describes God’s continual presence and love for him.

                “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” (verses 1-5)

                To David, this thought was just too wonderful for him to comprehend, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (v. 6) He could not imagine the Creator of the heavens and the earth wanting to be so involved in his life. (Wow!) David then writes just how close God was to him and how God would never leave him or forsake him.

                

           “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (verses 7-12) David could not go anywhere where the Lord would not also be present with him. He is a very personal God. He knew David and all his days even before he was born.

                “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (verse 16) 

These verses must have brought David much joy and comfort. 

           “How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.” (Verses 17 and 18). 

How God must love us to have so many thoughts of us. Does this sound like a God that just watches us “from a distance?”

                

          God has not changed since the days of David. God still has great love for us and He wants to be involved in each of our lives. He longs to walk and talk with us each day, throughout our days. God shows us in many different ways how much he cares for us and wants to shower us with blessings. And God dramatically demonstrated His love by giving up His beloved son for us all. A son who always obeyed His Father. Who always chose his Father’s will over his own. There can be no words to describe how deeply God loved His son. But God was willing to give him over to experience agonizing torture and death – ON OUR BEHALF. This kind of love is beyond comprehension. 

               “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) 

This is called sacrifice. Someone once gave the true meaning of sacrifice; it is "giving up something you dearly love in order to receive something of greater value." We are that of greater value that God was willing to give His own son for. This is love.

                “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) If God was willing to give up His own son for us, what wouldn’t he give us?

                Through the many centuries, God’s greatest desire was to be able to have an intimate relationship with sons and daughters. This plan was fulfilled by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. The truth is that God not only raised Jesus from the dead to live forever; He also raised us up also-to live forever. 

                                       

                Today we can find great joy and comfort, just like David did, with the reality that no matter what we do and wherever we go, God’s unfailing love is always with us. He will never let us go and He will not allow anything to pull us away from His side because of His great love He has for us. This love will NEVER change. And like David wrote, this thought is almost too wonderful to comprehend; but nevertheless it is true.

                “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38 and 39)

                                                                                                    

Love Always, Ray

                “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)