2 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) – But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord.
You are the beloved of God – greatly loved, adored, cherished, and dear to His heart. No one could ever love you as deeply and as passionately as God does. No one and nothing will ever satisfy your spiritual and emotional needs like He can. You were created for Him and you exist to be the focus of His love. He desires you. He yearns for you.
James 4:5 (AMP) says, …The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us…
In his book, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, Bible teacher and Greek scholar, Rick Renner tells us that in this verse, the Greek word for “yearn” is epipotheo. He says, this word “portrays an intense desire, a craving, a hunger, an ache, a yearning for something, a longing or pining for something,” (p. 91).
He goes on to say that James 4:5 conveys this compelling idea:
“…The Spirit has an all-consuming and passionate desire to have more and more of us. In fact, this desire to possess us is so strong that He literally yearns, craves, and pines after us,” (Ibid., p. 92).
Deuteronomy 4:24 (CEB) says, …the LORD your God is an all-consuming fire. He is a passionate God.
How often have you thought about God’s love for you? And even then, did you realize that His love for you is so intense, so strong, so passionate?
One of my favorite verses that I quote over and over in my posts is Ephesians 2:4 (AMP) which says, But God – so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us.
Stop and think about that. The Lord has a GREAT and WONDERFUL and INTENSE love for you! He has an all-consuming and passionate desire to have more and more of you! You are His beloved!
In the Song of Solomon we read a story of marital love, but it is also an allegory of God’s love for Israel, and Christ’s love for the Church (His Bride). This book shows the overwhelming love that God has for us.
In Song 1:15 (NLT) He says to you, How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful!
And in Song 5:9-10 (NLT) He tells you, You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes…Your love delights me!
You are beautiful to the Lord. You have captured His heart. You delight Him!
We cannot begin to fathom the vast and boundless love the Lord has for us, but we must begin to meditate on it. Understanding His love for us will cause us to love Him more and more. The more we spend time in His Word and in communion with Him through prayer, the more we can begin to understand His vast love for us.
Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV) says, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. The Good News Translation of this verse says, I have always loved you, so I have continued to show you My constant love.
The Lord loves you with an everlasting love! There’s nothing you can do to earn it and there’s nothing you can ever do to cause Him to stop loving you. His love is unconditional. His love is boundless. His love is constant – and it belongs to you because you are His beloved!
I am so thankful for God’s unwavering love! It is amazing to me that He loves as He does, but I am so grateful. There have been times when I didn’t feel lovable at all. But, it was at just those times when I felt His love upon me. It is a healing love, isn’t it? Blessings, Joan
Yes, it is! What a loving, faithful & merciful God He is!
I don’t understand it, but I accept it gratefully! Thanks for this reminder today!
Me too, Mary Beth! Blessings!
Thanks for linking up!!
It’s amazing to think about capturing God’s heart. Certainly convicts me. I want to be worthy of His yearning, His delight.
Amen. Me too!
Gods love is the greatest gift ever.
Yes, it is!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog. Linked with my friend Kathy, at Cornerstone Confessions. I need to learn to blog from you both. God bless your blogging ministry.
Thank you for your kind words, Stacy! Blessings to you, Alisha
encouraging words of wisdom here. I love a blog post with some “meat” to it and you do that here. Coming over from pause on the path blog hop.
Thank you for visiting, Jean. Now, *your* words have encouraged me! Blessings to you, Alisha
Alisha your words along with the scripture you’ve chosen are wonderful in explaining how He loves us. I cannot understand the depth of it, but I can at least rest in the knowledge that it is there. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Thanks, Mindy. I don’t think any of us will fully understand the depth of His love…it will take eternity. But I’m so thankful for it AND for His great mercy! Blessings, Alisha
Beautiful post! How precious that He is the lover of our souls!
Amen! Isn’t He so wonderful?
Thank you for sharing! It is so important to remember that we are loved and how very much we are loved! Some of my favorite verses on God’s love are, Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We’re neighbors at Consider the Lilies. Blessings from simplyhelpinghim.com
Ooh…yes! Why didn’t I think of those? 😉 Excellent! Thank you, Misty!
Hi Alisha…ths really touchd me b/c you put His love in such a way that made it hit home….to think I’ve captured His heart…wow. Powerful
I *love* the way the NLT translates that verse. His love is amazing, isn’t it?
Jeremiah 31:3 has given me comfort often over the years. I wear a Celtic eternity know ring every day to remind me of this truth. Thanks for linking up to Thrive @ Home!
Thank you for reminding us about God’s love. I needed to hear this today, Thank you also for linking up at Leaving A Legacy.
Blessings~
Shari
Great thoughts on God’s love. It is truly amazing to contemplate. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Amen! He’s truly amazing!
Wow! Great article…so many comments, I can’t even get one and I’ve been doing this for years. You’re very blessed. Thank you for your words…
Thank you, Nancy. Blessings to you!