Words

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

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We were all made to desire affirmation from our fathers. This blog post resonates with me because I’ve personally experienced it to be true.

Throughout middle school to college I lived destructively and in rebellion. I didn’t grow up receiving that affirmation from my dad so I rejected that desire altogether. If there was one thing I was sure of in life, it was that I hated him. I made up my mind that I didn’t need his affirmation, and definitely didn’t WANT it.

I projected that perspective onto my view of God the Father. Then I settled for receiving affirmation (it wasn’t free; I paid for it) from boys even though it was doodoo compared to the real thing. Praise God, He ever so gently and lovingly freed me from that vicious cycle and now I’m able to freely receive His love instead of running from it, and freely love others as well :)

He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has He seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a King is among them.

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Numbers 23:21

It’s not because of the Israelites faithfulness; it’s because of God’s faithfulness. It’s not because Israel hasn’t sinned; it’s because God’s grace covers all sin. I love God.

At this point the Israelites have rebelled countless times and will continue to disobey but God doesn’t hold it against them. He will make it right. He knows their past, He knows their future sins but He is faithful to the covenant He made with them. In the end, He knows His good and perfect will for them will be the only thing that remains. Love never fails.

The sinner comes not to God—God comes to him. It is not, “My God, where are You?” but the first cry is the voice of grace, “Sinner, where are you?

—Charles Haddon Spurgeon