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I Will Love Them Freely
by Filoiann Wiedenhoff Hosea 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Have you ever loved someone so deeply that it hurt? You would do anything for them, love them, care for them, and protect them, so much so you couldn't put your love into words? You could never show them enough love and when you did it wasn't reciprocated? Here is a love story you will want to hear: Ezekekiel 16:7-17 "I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare. 'Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his. "NIV What a heart break it must be, to pour your heart out, give them everything you could in the name of love and to have your love turn away and give themselves to another. I have also been hurt in the past in fact I don't think I know one person that hasn't experienced a broken heart at one time or another. But looking back it was devastating, it hurt so bad and there's nothing you can do to stop the pain. I don't think we should ever think that God is not heart broken over us and Israel. That He doesn't grieve over us when we turn to other idols. That it doesn't affect Him when we receive His love and grace and then turn around and walk in sin. I thank God that He is God and in spite of sinful mankind that He is faithful to keep His covenant with Israel and now to us because of Christ. That He loved us even when we were still dead in our transgressions and that we are saved by His grace that no one can boast. I also thank God that He loved us enough to cover our nakedness and more than that He gave up His only Son in order to bridge the gap that we could turn and run back to Him. That He may love us freely. There is nothing on this earth that compares to His unfailing love and I hope that you are inspired and motivated to fall in love with God all over again. The bible says that he draws us with cords of loving kindness and that His love never fails. I don't know about you but that is a love that I have been searching for my whole life and God says to come to Him and He will love us freely. I want to challenge you that if you have strayed away from God, or if you have turned to idols or put other things or people before Him that God is saying turn and repent and I will love you freely. I will forgive you, I will throw my robe around you as the prodigal son and kiss you much for you are mine and you belong to me. I hope this note of love convinces you that you have a good God who loves you deeply more than you know and wants you to come to Him with all your heart, mind and soul and allow Him to lavish you with His love. Let us fall in love with God and remember that His love and grace is better than anything this earth can offer. Scripture References: Deut 7:7-8 "The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, "NIV Zeph 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."NIV Rom 3:24-25 "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. NIV Eph 1:5-6 "through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will NIV Eph 2:4-6 "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved. NIV 2 Tim 1:9 "who has saved us and called us to a holy life not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. NIV Titus 3:4-5 "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." NIV Filoiann M. Wiedenhoff is a pastor's wife,work at home mom, Womans Biblical Counselor, Bible Teacher and Writer. View her website for more articles http://filoiannwiedenhoff.com/ Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |