Responding to God's Love

We shook our heads in amazement. It was like riding on the back of a tiger - there was no way she could get off. We wonder - thirty years later with video games, computers and the rest - just how that boy now grown into manhood copes with his own children’s demands!

The other day I overheard a segment of a talk-back show. A mother had written in about her sixteen-year-old son who was becoming aggressive and violent towards her. She had no idea why he should have become like this. After all, he has in his room everything he might need - television, DVD player, Play Station, computer...

But you can’t buy love. The young man needs understanding, a listening ear, conversation... not more things. Any relationship based on material bargaining will inevitably face the law of diminishing returns.

Yet love hopes for, longs for, looks for a response. Without any response, love is unfulfilled.

Paul wrote that "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5.8). God wasn’t buying our love, but paying our debt and drawing us back into relationship with himself. The gift becomes operative for us as we receive it by faith and live in the restored relationship.

The unknown writer of Psalm 116 had been in serious trouble - "The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, save me!’..." (vv. 3-4).

There are many people who call out to God when trouble strikes. Too often it’s the only time they pray. Again and again God gives them help in their time of trouble. Yet the crisis passes and they haven’t been brought back into relationship with him.

For the Psalmist it has all become part of a continuing relationship and life-long commitment. "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live" (vv. 1-2).

"How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?" (v. 12) We can never "repay the Lord for all his goodness." If we could, we might "square off the account" and let that be the end of it. Instead the debt of love continues through our life.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (v. 15). Even when the outcome of our prayers isn’t what we hope for, our life is always safe with God.

The Psalmist says, "I will lift up the cup of salvation... I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord" (vv. 13,17), and adds, "I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people" (vv. 14,18).

When Jesus died on the cross, God wasn’t buying our love, but paying our debt and drawing us back into relationship with himself.

God hears our "emergency calls," but is longing and looking for a permanent, long-term relationship.

Let’s respond to the call of God’s love ourselves, and encourage others, not just to call out to God for help, but to trust him all of their lives.

Prayer: Father God, you love us and hear our prayer. Sometimes we only remember you when crisis strikes. Help us to love and trust you in good times as well as bad - to grow in understanding and experience of your constant love. Help us to encourage others to face life with thankful confidence in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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