God Speaking

“…but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:6)

When one of my four daughters was in those early teen years we experienced, what countless parents had before us and probably countless continue to do so, differences of opinions on many subjects and that is putting it mildly. These differences covered all sorts of topics, ranging from suitable attire/ suitable friends/ suitable activities etc. Some discussions became heated and diplomatic relationships often were broken off, quite abruptly, which left me drained and sad as I love all of my daughters deeply, then to my surprise an unexpected occurrence began to happen. After one of these painful episodes and as I was preparing to go to bed, I would find under my pillow a love note , often in the form of a poem, expressing on paper what my daughter was unable to voice. Those scraps of paper brought about incredible healing to our relationship. We both remembered that we loved each other and that knowledge helped overcome any obstacle in our relationship. The little love note was the key.

Notes from a loved one in any form can bring about great joy and as we live far away from our Australian relatives, seeing that familiar writing on the envelope can immediately lift our spirits. We know our family is thinking of us and we eagerly open the letter. Little thank you notes from friends keep our friendships alive and well. A Get Well card from our church when we are sick, comforts us . Our Heavenly Father knows that we often need to be reminded of how much he loves us and his word is sprinkled with love notes just for us. One of my favorites is found in Jeremiah.

“The Lord appeared to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

The Lord’s love for us is active. He doesn’t just tell us about his love. His love is shown in his actions; he binds up the bruises of his people, (Isaiah 30:26), he heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds, (Psalm 147:3) he upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down (Psalm 145:14).

One of his most beautiful love notes is found in Psalm 91

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14 – 16)

Of course if I had not read my daughter’s note or had not bothered to open my mail from relatives or friends, I would have been totally ignorant of the love expressed in their written words and how sad it would have been not to acknowledge that love. The same applies to all the sweet love notes directed to us from our Heavenly Father. We need to constantly read them for ourselves and so become bathed in his love and when we read just how great his love was for us we are so willing to acknowledge that love and love others in his name. His love for us was so great that he was willing to give up his precious son.

“For God so loved the world that he gave us his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)