God’s Love For Us

And so God loves us just because, and it’s not because of anything we’ve done, quite the opposite, we’ve done everything wrong, and still He loves us.

Next, going back to what our verse in Jeremiah said in how God has loved us with an everlasting love, we then enter into our second concept about God’s love.

2. God’s Love Is Everlasting

This tenacious steadfast love God has for us is seen in what the Psalmist says.

“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him.” (Psalm 103:17a NRS)

Before we ever existed, God loved us. Long before we were ever born God fastened His affection upon us and decided to love us, not because we earned it, but because that’s who He is.

Before we were born God knew the worst about us, therefore nothing we do will disillusion Him where He says, “Didn’t see that coming. I guess I made a mistake.” God doesn’t make mistakes.

J.I. Packer in his book, “Knowing God,” said,

“God’s love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on the prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion Him about me in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself.”

And so God says, “It’s not because you’ve earned it or worked hard for it that I have loved you, rather I love you because I made a choice to love you.”

God not only loves us from everlasting, but He will love us to everlasting. His love will never end. This is a lifelong and eternity long love relationship.

In the chorus, “One Thing Remains,” it says, “Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me. On and on and on it goes. It overwhelms and satisfies my soul. And I never, ever, have to be afraid. One thing remains.”

The one thing that remains is God’s unchanging love towards us, which bring us to the next concept about God’s love.

3. God’s Love is Unchanging

Does God ever change? Through the prophet Malachi the Lord said no way. God said,

“I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6a NKJV)

But we also read numerous examples of God changing due to the people’s repentance. In fact, this is actually a promise God gives.

“Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.” (Jeremiah 26:3 NKJV)

God is creating opportunities for us to turn from our sins and escape His intended punishment.

So, when the Lord said, “I do not change,” what is God’s unchangeable nature? May I suggest that it’s His love and purpose to bless us! I believe this is indeed the case when through Malachi the Lord went on to say,

“So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6b NKJV)

(Repeat verse with our name inserted)

But when we turn away from God and rebel against His word, then He changes His method of blessing and turns it into punishment. But He does so not to hurt us, but to help us and to bring us back into relationship with Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)