Jesus loves me

 

Jesus was lamenting over Jerusalem—the chosen people of God, the Jews—when He said this. But have you noticed that it applies equally to us? Can any of us claim that Jesus forced Himself on us?

He doesn’t work that way (although sometimes it would be a lot easier if He did!). He doesn’t smother us in hugs and kisses; in fact, he doesn’t even force us to acknowledge Him, speak to Him, accept Him, or believe Him. He lets us rebel if we so choose. He lets us throw His amazing sacrifice back in His face. He lets us break His heart.

He could avoid all this pain if He simply stopped loving us. But He doesn’t, and He never will! Did you know 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39)? Did you know that “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5)? Isn’t that glorious?!

Jesus' love is not our choice. But our reception of it is. Even though He knows that the safest place to be is under His wings, He won’t make us be safe. It’s completely our decision, just like it’s our decision to spend time with Him, listen to His voice, and make Him an active part of every day.

Scripture and a Snapshot is my favorite link-up of the whole week! I’m ever and always astonished at what the Lord says to me through the verses—whether they be the ones I’m using or the ones other bloggers use. I hope you are too!