AGAPE [love]

Ezekiel 16:59-63
⁵⁹ " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant. ⁶⁰ Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. ⁶¹ Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant with you. ⁶² So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD. ⁶³ Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "


// THOUGHTS:

.. This is LOVE, Agape!
.. Regardless all those things mentioned in the whole chapter, in the end, it really showed how God loved Israel so much regardless their turning away from Him.

.. This is how we are!
.. We "prostitute" ourselves; we forget about the covenant we made before God; we go on our own way; we try to do things on our own; we neglect His presence thinking that we are going to be alright. Yet, we know these are humiliating before God. When we realize about what we have done, we are speechless knowing that we are guilty of all these. Yet, one thing remains, GOD LOVES US! Yes, He will deal with us as we deserve, but that does not change His love for us. We get judgment for what we have done. God, of course in His grace and love, does not want to do it. But because we have done something against Him, He has to keep His nature of being just.
.. Because of God's love, we ought to live a life "becometh" of that love; out of gratitude and living up to it.


// BELLE:

.. Here's a glimpse of God's love for me. I have failed Him many times, but here's another comforting word again. HE LOVES ME just as He loved the Israelites.
.. I will continue to live "becometh" of His love for me!
.. Setting aside that time for Him - finding my solitary place day after day and not neglecting that time of need to be refreshed and soaked in His presence.
.. Continually studying His Word and always being prepared to give an answer to those who need to hear it (1 Peter 3:15)
.. To continually examine myself; to say to Him "show me myself" and exposing it in the light of His Word that I may see my failures. To humbly come before Him and realize my need of Him daily so I may never trust in my own self, wisdom, and abilities ever again!


// LORD, YOU ARE LOVE! Thank you so much for these comforting words. Thank you for reminding me that You are always welcoming me back in Your arms. Yet, You also remain just. Forgive me for the times I didn't live out my "worthiness" of Your love. I pray that You will continue to help me to turn away from the big and small failures I hand and to continually live out my life for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen!