His Love Endures Forever
Have you ever read the Jesus Storybook Bible?
Here at the Well we gift it to our kindergarten kids – if you don’t have one you really should!
Part of the reason we love it so much is because it beautifully displays how the entire collection of scripture – from the opening pages of Genesis to the closing chapters of Revelation – is one big story.
The story of how much God loves us, his beloved children, and how He is forever pursuing a relationship with us.
The author, Sally Lloyd-Jones explains
“You see no matter what, in spite of everything, God would love his children with a Never-Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.
And though they would forget him, and run from Him, deep in their hearts God’s children would miss Him always, and long for Him — lost children yearning for their home.”
The Bible is the story of God’s enduring love.
His love that endures our forgetting about Him and what He’s done for us, our tendency to run from Him and follow our own ways.
His love that endures our impatience with Him and others, our unkindness, our propensity for self-centredness and jealousy and rudeness.
His love that endures death, even death on a cross, for the sake of His beloved.
His love that endures for you. For me.
In this the second week of Lent, we remember and reflect and prepare our hearts for Easter and all that Jesus endured for us.
For love.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 5:8
Day 1 – Scandalous Generosity
Relax:
Begin with 2 minutes of silence. In those 2 minutes, pay attention to your breathing.
As you breath in whisper/think: His love endures
As you breath out whisper/think: forever.
Read:
Psalm 136: 1-9 and Matthew 6:25-34
Reflect:
- What good things have you neglected to thank God for in the past week? Start a list that begins with “Thank you God for…”
Be specific! Nothing is too small or too big. - What areas of your life are you worrying about that you need to release to the God “who alone does great wonders”?
- Write “God I give you…” and list your cares and worries. Be specific and honest and ask God to do what only He can do.
- How does ungratefulness and worry affect your ability to give and receive love from God? From others?
Pray:
Confess anything that has come to mind over your reading and reflection.
Invite Jesus to cultivate a heart of gratitude and the desire to seek Him first in the areas of your life you tend to worry and fret.
Listen:
End with 2 minutes of silence.
Listen for what Jesus has to say to you and receive it as a personal gift from the God of gods and Lord of lords today.
Day 2 – Always-Present Protector
Relax:
Begin with 2 minutes of silence. In those 2 minutes, pay attention to your breathing.
As you breath in whisper/think: His love endures
As you breath out whisper/think: forever.
Read:
Psalm 136: 10-26 and John 16:17-33
Reflect:
- Take a few moments and think about a time that something unexpected happened (a coincidence) that benefitted/blessed you.
Maybe you were protected from something you were worried about, like a favourable medical diagnosis that could’ve been negative. Or it could be a close call in your car (nearly getting rear-ended), or discussion that didn’t turn into an argument. Maybe you found something valuable you lost and didn’t think you’d find.
If nothing comes to mind ask the Holy Spirit to help you recall.
Thank God for being your protector and provider in this situation. - Now think about a time that something unexpected happened that hurt/hindered you.
Ask God about it. Why did that happen? Where was He? Why didn’t He show up? Be honest with Him about how you felt. Listen for His response.
Now close your eyes and picture that situation but this time look for Jesus. Where was He in that situation? If you can’t find him, ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
Pray:
Jesus explained to his disciples that God is their forever protector, just as He was for their ancestors.
Even though their “time of grief” was now, He promised He would see them again and no one would ever take away their joy.
In John 16:33 Jesus tells his disciples
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”.
Talk to Jesus about your troubles and ask him to show you how he will overcome them.
Invite him to be your protector today and thank him for the way he protected you from death by his sacrifice on the cross.
Day 3: Forever Friend
Relax:
Begin with 2 minutes of silence. In those 2 minutes, pay attention to your breathing.
As you breath in whisper/think: His love endures
As you breath out whisper/think: forever.
Read:
Psalm 107:1-31 and John 15:9-17
Reflect:
- Rewrite Psalm 107:1-9 in your own words.
What part of this Psalm allows you to see God more clearly as a friend? - Reread the passage from John.
Are there any friendships you are struggling with right now? Are you a good friend? - What does friendship with Jesus mean to you? What does He promise you about the kind of friend He is? What kind of friend are you to him?
Pray:
Spend some time in prayer, confessing anything you feel convicted about in terms of your friendship with Jesus or others.
Receive the forever friendship of Jesus anew today.
Day 4: Our Suffering Saviour
Relax:
Begin with 2 minutes of silence. In those 2 minutes, pay attention to your breathing.
As you breath in whisper/think: His love endures
As you breath out whisper/think: forever.
Read:
Psalm 118 and 1 Peter 2: 4-10
Reflect:
1This passage in Psalms describes the character of our God and Saviour. List the attributes the Psalmist sees, and continue to list any that come to mind.
Put these characteristics into your own words.
Let me start you off…
Your Saviour is good.
His love endures forever.
He answers when you call.
Pray:
1 Peter 2: 6b tells us that “…and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Spend some time thanking Jesus for being our trustworthy rock on which we build our life upon. Admit the areas you have trouble trusting him, and tell him where you need to experience his enduring love for you today.
Day 5: Relentless Redeemer
Relax:
Begin with 2 minutes of silence. In those 2 minutes, pay attention to your breathing.
As you breath in whisper/think: His love endures
As you breath out whisper/think: forever.
Read:
Jeremiah 33:10-16
Isaiah 11:1-5 and 45:17
1 Peter 1:18-25
Reflect:
Jesus’ relentless pursuit of your redemption is millenniums old.
Throughout all of scripture we see His precious blood longed for, prophesied about, and spilled.
All for you.
This is a Never-Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love
Listen to and meditate on the words of this song.
Revel in His enduring love for you today.