Does God love me?
That’s a question that echoes within the hearts of millions.
But there’s another question that aches within the hearts of many.
Does God still love me?
So often, we see the love of others and how quickly it can fade away, especially as they see our failings and our weaknesses.
And so we ask, if they are like this, what of God? Will he leave me too?
I think we find the answer here in this passage.
God talks about how he led them out of Egypt, how he led them with kindness and love, guiding them and healing their wounds. How he lifted the yoke of slavery from them and provided for their every need.
Yet in spite of all this, the people turned away from him, worshiping the Baals.
Instead of following God, they determined in their hearts to turn away from him.
And so God warned them of the judgment to come.
But in the midst of it all, he bares his heart saying,
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel…
My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man– the Holy One among you.” (Hosea 11:8-9)
In other words, no matter how far we fall away from him, though he may discipline us, he will never give us up. He will never hand us over to another.
He isn’t a man whose love changes and fades away. His love is constant, and continually reaches out, waiting for us to return.
Do you ever wonder at the love of God? Do you ever think that he couldn’t possibly still care for you?
Always remember the words of Jeremiah,
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 