Why does GOD Love me? These are two fundamental questions that we can seek out the answers to within the pages of the Bible. In Romans 5 we are told, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Now, wait just a minute. Why does it say that we were enemies? This is going to be one of those posts that I could go one of two ways with. Although, as I consider that GOD is Love and the time of the year that it is, I will stick to the theme. Does GOD love me? Why does GOD love me?

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. – Jeremiah 29:11-14. I would like you to take a moment and consider what it is that we are looking at. Do you remember at the beginning, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life?” Why does the book of Jeremiah say that we have all been driven away? Why does it say that we were carried away captive? Why does the Bible refer to us as lost sheep? “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Why does GOD Love me?

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. – Jeremiah 31:3-6. As I consider my life and the mistakes that I have made, I have asked myself at times, does GOD love me?

Looking back, I can’t help but be reminded of these two chapters from Jeremiah, the life of Jesus Christ, his infinite love and ultimate sacrifice, His life of service fulfilling the needs of others. Why does the Bible refer to us as enemies? Why does it say that we were carried away captive? Why does it say that we are lost sheep? Why did Jesus say, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do, and because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not?” Why does Jeremiah 31 say that we will be adorned again with our tabrets? Wouldn’t that mean that we had them before and that we had lost them? How is it that we could be planted again? Where did we all come from? What is it that we all did that would require a loving LORD God to come here on our behalf, living the perfect sinless life, and pay with his own life with His death on a cross? Why is the parable of the prodigal son in the Bible? Where did he come from? Where did he go? Why is it exactly the same as what we are looking at and speaking on?

If Jesus is the LORD God’s only Son, who is our father? Why are we told this in the Bible? “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” – 2 Corinthians 4:4. Why does the Bible say that Jesus is the image of the invisible GOD? What does that make all of us? Who is our father? Who is it that Jesus said our father was? Why does it say, “They that are in the flesh can not please GOD?”

In 1 John 2 we are told, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” If up to this point, you have only been reading without looking deeper into any of the internal links, now would be a good time to read, The Bible: Fact or Fiction. It is time that we take off the cover and bring to light who we are and what we did that would require a perfect sacrifice for the penalty to be paid on our behalf. Why does GOD love me?

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.” – Isaiah 41:10-16.

“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.” – Isaiah 49:13-18.

Does GOD love me? “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:7-13.

I will leave you this day with one final question to ponder, Am I my brother’s keeper? I pray that the LORD God bless you and keep you, rooted and grounded in His Love.

Jonathan Heller – Lit Up A Banner