Devotional - 99-03-19 - It's Settled

Jeremiah 31:3 - "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, 'Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn thee."

I love cats. They're independent, fun-loving creatures. They aren't dependent on me for anything.

My husband isn't a cat lover. To him, they're smelly, whiny, obnoxious creatures.

For the first 8 years of our marriage, we had no cats. BUT, for Christmas in 1996, he brought a surprise home for me, a little kittybrat named Bonnie. Jeff got me a kitten for Christmas. He set aside his own dislike of cats to give me what I really loved, because he loves me.

From that point on, whenever I would start dwelling on something he had done that hurt my feelings, I would remember the cat. Nothing could have pointed out his love toward me more than that selfless setting aside of his own wants.

This reminds of God, and how He proved His love toward us; even though we don't deserve it, Christ died for us.

We love to do what we want. We love doing our own thing. We naturally turn from God's ways because they are so contrary to our own ways.

God hates sin. He turns from it because He is Holy, righteous. It is so contrary to His ways.

And yet, because He loved us, He set aside His own royal robes, left the splendor of Heaven and became a man. He then humbled Himself to be beaten and hung on a cross. Scripture says He became sin for us, and He paid the penalty for us. God turned His back on His Son because He hates sin.

When things go wrong in my life, when bad things happen and I start to think that God doesn't love me, I remember the cross. Nothing could point out God's love toward me more than that public display of affection.

Remember the cross today.

Lord, we are such emotional creatures. We see the situations around us and question You and Your motives. And yet, You said that all things work together for the good to those who love You and who are called according to Your purposes. Forgive us for being so selfish. Father, when things seem to blow up, when life goes haywire, help us to not look at the circumstances. God, please, remind us to remember the cross. Thank You for that love. Amen

Sandi

sandi@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org