The Promise to Love

What has God promised us? Part 2!

I’m not really a dog person. I prefer cats. That being said, I have truly enjoyed living with folks who own dogs. My roommate right now has a gigantic 90-pound floof of a dog who never fails to greet me whenever I walk in the door.

No matter what time of day or night it is, I can trust that Georgiana will be there to passive aggressively demand butt scratches. We teasingly call her our emotional support dog—because she needs all of our emotional support.

All kidding aside, it’s nice. It’s always heartwarming to experience that kind of consistent affection, knowing that you’re loved unconditionally (even if you didn’t scratch Georgie’s head before you left in the first place—how dare you).

Is there any more trustworthy love than a dog? Yeah, you know what I’m going to say.

“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
Isaiah 54:10

Georgiana is a silly example, but when I think about unconditional love, she comes to mind. I don’t have to perform. I don’t have to give her things. I don’t have to earn her regard. She just loves me.

If we can accept a dog’s constant love, why do we struggle with God’s love? According to Scripture, God has chosen to love us. He says it over and over again. He loves us so much He gave Jesus to die for us, to become sin for us. If that’s not love, I don’t know what love is.

God’s love is faithful. Never ending. Constantly consistent. And there’s nothing we can do to get away from it (Romans 8:33).

He has promised to love us even when we are unlovable. Even when we don’t want His love, He loves us. You don’t have to accept His love. That’s your choice. But just because you don’t accept it doesn’t mean it’s not there.

When you’re ready, He’ll be waiting.

Questions for Reflection:

• How do you define love? If you had to explain love to someone else, how would you do it?

• How has experiencing love in your life made you a better person?

• How does God’s love affect your relationship with other people?

Week 50 Memory Verse: