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Reflections

Love on the Line

“Smile, America, God loves you.” Red letters four feet tall blazed the message from the side of an 18-wheeler roaring by on the interstate.

The message could not have been timelier. My husband and I were on our way to a conference, the last we would attend in his ministerial capacity at that time. After a year of soul-searching, he had resigned the position he had held for 15 years. In about two weeks, we would be unemployed for the first time in our 40-plus years of ministry.

I had learned to trust my husband’s sensitivity to the leading of the Lord, but now my female need for security caused me to be uncertain. “Tell me again,” I asked, “what does the future hold?”

Patiently he reminded me of the simple trust in God we had in the beginning of our marriage. “Now we must remember God’s faithfulness, and His love for us,” he said.

At that exact moment the 18-wheeler roared by, nearly drowning out my husband’s words. But the message on the side of the semi-trailer firmly underscored what he was saying. I felt as if God had sent me a 35-foot valentine reassuring me of His love.

Why are we sometimes uncertain of God’s love? In my case, doubt and fear of the future clouded my perception of His unfailing love. Sometimes we have faulty theories about God’s love. These theories may not be consciously verbalized, but our actions reveal them.

One theory tells us that if God really loves us, everything will always go our way. When they do not, we have no criteria to explain to ourselves and others what is happening. Another theory says that God only loves those who live righteously. A God who loves unconditionally is unknown.

How then can we be assured of God’s love, if it is not demonstrated through favorable circumstances or earned with righteous living? The Word of God paints the best portrait of God’s love for us in the person of Jesus Christ—a love that is not contingent on circumstances or personal worth. Eugene Peterson describes God’s love in The Message:

God put his love on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to Him (Romans 5:6).

“Love on the line” at Calvary is a love not only declared but also demonstrated. If we are tempted to doubt God’s love because of some present discomfort or sin, we can go back to the Cross and ponder the greatness of the love that caused Jesus to die for us so we might have eternal life. All other love pales by comparison.

Paul tells the Romans that if God loved us enough to send His Son, we can confidently believe He cares for everything that concerns us. His love remains in the good times and bad. It endures through passing years.

And how do I know? It has been more than 15 years since we saw that 18-wheeler roar by us. We have experienced God’s immeasurable love in many ways since we stepped away from the security of position to follow His leading in another direction. Truly we can say His love has led us all the way.

Points to Ponder

Does your life style demonstrate a solid assurance of the love of God?
In what ways does the awareness of God’s love influence your daily living?

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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