What Is God`s Perspective On Us?
by Anne Lawrence
Have you ever wondered whether it’s really true that God loves us as much as people say He does?
Recently I have been thinking about two key people in the Old Testament and their relationship with God – well actually, God’s relationship with them.
Abraham was called a friend of God. He was held up for his faith and yet…he actually failed. He believed God, but in the process, he got worried and tried to solve the matter himself, and bore a son by Sarah’s maidservant. Yet, he did remain faithful and bore Isaac and was willing to sacrifice Isaac when tested by God. But still, how can Scripture say he believed and did not waver?
King David was described as a man after God’s own heart. He was an amazing man of God. He was faithful to God. He received prophecies. He honoured God before the people … and yet … he fell. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband murdered to try and cover it up. He didn’t discipline his children. He angered God by counting the fighting men. Yet, he was a man after God’s own heart. How does that work?
We know that God is a holy God and cannot look on sin. These men failed him. But God’s heart is for relationship, and God’s heart is love towards us. As a parent loves their child and sees the good in them, even when they fail, so our God sees the good in us, even when we fail. Both of these men failed, but, overall, they loved God, they trusted Him, they sought to put Him first and so He called them: ‘My friend’ and ‘a Man after my heart’.
In the case of David, once he realised what he had done, he repented fully and earnestly and accepted the consequences, and God loved him. He was special. He was trusted by God.
Father God has the same heart towards us. He loves us, He trusts us and He sees in us what He has created. Yes, we may fail. Yes, we may mess things up, but that doesn’t change His love towards us or His knowledge of our true potential and destiny. When we are loved like that, how can we fail to be drawn to Him and to want to honour him and obey Him?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your overwhelming love for me. Thank You that You see the best in me, even when I feel at my worst. Thank You that You love me, even when I really mess up. Lord, I want to honour You with my whole life. Help me, Lord, to bring You joy as You have brought me peace and security through Your love.
Amen.
Anne Lawrence joined the team at Ellel Grange in 2010 and is the Deputy Centre Director. She is married to Paul, Centre Director. Anne previously worked in education. Her last post was CEO of a College in Dublin. She has written courses, syllabi and a book for the English for Work series published by Longman. She has a heart for the broken and a passion to see people set free and released into more of what the Lord has for them. She loves to teach, listen, worship and create things.
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