Who? Me? Yes, You! - Week 3
“Embracing Your Identity In Christ”
I Am Loved Forever
Jeremiah 31:3, "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
Isaiah 55:3, "Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David."
Forever! A word that the majority of today’s modern world doesn’t understand. When my husband proposed to me for marriage, he did so through the radio. Driving down the expressway listening to the radio, Delilah’s voice announced that there was romance in the air. Suddenly Ed’s voice came through the radio saying, “May the words to this song and this ring tell you how I feel.” Then Alabama’s song, “Forever Is As Far As I Will Go” began to play. It was a song he had played for me many times and he meant that as much as was as humanly possible, ours would be a forever marriage. He has done a great job of keeping that vow and our love grows deeper every day.
Forever marriage promises are very rare in these days. Driving a car forever until it dies is more of a joke than a reality. Use it until it’s all used up sounds crazy to a generation that has learned you must have the newest and the best. BFF-Best Friends Forever is a cute acronym often used in social media, but usually ends when betrayed or offended too deeply.
In Old Testament days, the words related to forever were everlasting and covenant. In those days the listeners knew what was being conveyed. Covenant was a binding agreement that could not be broken. Of course we know that God is the only one who can keep a covenant forever. He made a covenant through his son’s blood that is binding and unbreakable. He will never walk out on you. He will not trade you for another. He will never surprise you with the rehearsed line: “I no longer love you. I have fallen out of love with you.” No, He says, “I love you forever, with an everlasting love.”
Kristian Stanfil’s song, “Love Never Fails” says it best. “His love never fails. Never gives up. It never runs out on me.” Do you believe it? Remind yourself of this powerful truth all week. Let it sink into you.
“One Thing Remains”
Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains
Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me
On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains
In death, In life
I’m confident and covered by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid
There’s nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love…