LOVE 2020: AMAZING LOVE

Good Evening Friends …

I made it through the week!

Seems a bit melodramatic?

Perhaps, but I actually had my doubts this week

In any event –

The weekend is indeed here

And, I get to spend a few moments with you

Today – we will be discussing … what else but love?

AMAZING LOVE!!!

It could actually be a Part II to our talk yesterday;

You see, Intentional Love & Amazing Love are closely inter-twined

In the book of Hosea in the Bible,

The LORD instructs the prophet Hosea to take a wife –

And not just any wife – a woman named Gomer

a “promiscuous woman”, a “harlot”, a “whore”

NOW – we do not have time here to delve into all of the ‘WHYS’

SO – for the sake of time, we will focus on the ‘WHAT’

AND – the ‘WHAT’ in the book of Hosea is a depiction of AMAZING LOVE

               

The LORD was specific and intentional in His direction

And the prophet was obliging

In our current, modern day, it would be akin to accessing the sex-traffic trade

                to find a bride

Now a relationship can be difficult enough if you get blind-sided;

     where you realize later that the individual you have chosen has problems with fidelity.

It is another matter entirely, choosing someone with known challenges

YET –

This is exactly how God love us

‘God demonstrates His love for us in that: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5:8

‘[in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world’ Ephesians 1:4 AMP

THAT IS INTENTIONAL & AMAZING LOVE

Now – in the story of Hosea,

He marries Gomer, builds a life with her, has a family with her

                But she ultimately goes astray – back to what is familiar

Sometimes we get so damaged in life – that we do not know how to receive love

But, goes back for her again, searching for her diligently – INTENTIONALLY

And Hosea finally finds her – with another man,

adding “adulteress” to the ‘flowery’ list of adjectives used to describe her

And he buys her back – to bring her back home again

AMAZING, DELIBERATE, INTENTIONAL LOVE

This is how the LORD loves each and every one of us!

He bought us back at an amazing price – with the blood of His Son

When we were lost in our sin, He came to take us for Himself,

                To cleanse us and make us whole

And we, like Gomer, still go astray – even after we have been redeemed.

And He diligently and purposefully searches us out and says,

‘Return to Me .. I AM still here ... I love you with an everlasting love’

AMAZING, AMAZING, INTENTIONAL LOVE!

I was listening to a song on my way home this evening –

‘Love Moved First’ by Casting Crowns

And there is a section of the song which states:

‘You didn’t wait for me – to find my way to You;

I couldn’t cross that distance – even if I wanted to;

You came running after me –

When anybody else would have turned and left me at my worst;

Love moved first’

INDEED!

THAT IS AMAZING & INTENTIONAL LOVE

Have a great evening … 

God Bless & Much Love