I'm falling in love with the God who has pursued me. He has pursued me by calling me to Himself, by redeeming me with His blood, by justifying me by decree, and by sanctifying me through His Spirit. He pursued me in the ultimate act of sacrificial love called death. His death and resurrection forever secured my relationship with Him because it is dependent on Him, not me. And as if that wasn't enough, He pursues me daily, by giving me this life to live with His Holy Spirit residing in me pointing me towards Him daily.
Rom 8:29-30 "and those whom He predestined He also called...justified...glorified" ; Rom 5:9 "we have now been justified by His blood...saved by Him from the wrath of God" ; Gal 2:16 "not justified by works...but through faith in Jesus" ; 2 Thess 2:13 "sanctification through the Spirit" ; Gal 5:16 "walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh"
THE CYCLE
As I've matured in this journey called sanctification, my relationship with Christ has soared in the clouds and sunken into the valley. He is steadfast, but at times I seek pleasures in the superficial love of my sin. The sin of my flesh and the sin of my heart are rebellious acts towards a God who loves me. He has called me, and I have accepted His free gift of salvation; but then I sinned against Him, then fallen in love with Him, then strayed away from him yet again, then fallen in deeper love with Him, and then again neglected Him with an apathetic heart. This cycle is repetitive because of my wondering heart ("oh wretched man that I am").
Rom 3:10 "none is righteous, no, not one...no one seeks for God" ; James 1:14 "each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire" ; Rom 1:25 "exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" ; Ez16:29 "you multiplied your whoring...even with this you were not satisfied" ; Rom 7:24 "wretched man that I am"
HE IS FAITHFUL
Yet He is still faithfully beside me, keeping me and sustaining me. He loves me, even when "I play the whore". When I sin, stray, and neglect Him, He pursues me still. His love for me is undeniable and unwavering. He remains faithful to me even when I am unfaithful to Him. He loves me even when I don't love Him. Ez 16:26 "you played the whore...to provoke me to anger" ; Hos 11:8-9 "how can I give up on you?...I will not execute my burning anger...for I am God"
HIS LOVE IS EVIDENT
I have the evidence of His love written in His Word, thus written on my heart. Forever etched in eternity is the sacrificial love that Jesus Christ has for Rachel Noble (and for all of us who are in Christ). The cross of Christ solidifies forever the announcement of His love for His people. Amen!
2 Cor 3:3 "written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts" ; Col 2:14-15 "this He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers...by triumphing over them in Him" ; 1 Cor 15:55 "o death where is your victory, o death, where is your sting" ; Col 1:20 :making peace by the blood of the cross"