June 1: How Much Does God Love Us?

2 Samuel 17:1-29

John 19:23-42

Psalm 119:129-152

Proverbs 16:12-13

Today's OT reading answers the question in the title powerfully, eloquently.  Consider Absalom: a part of the 0.1% - the good looking, wealthy son of a king.  He committed a crime that warranted death, received banishment instead, and then was forgiven.  Absalom was blessed - by God, and through his earthly father.

So when he gets home, what does he do?  He plots to overthrow the king.  He is so successful David fears for his life and the lives of the members of his household, that he abandons the palatial life to escape into the wilderness.  And after his father leaves, Absalom goes even further by sleeping with his father's concubines. 

Not too long after that, God comes to David's aid, and his forces defeat Absalom's.   David has the opportunity to exact vengeance on the ungrateful, traitorous son.  He has every right to every ounce of anger and outrage he can muster.  What is his response?  "Be gentle with young man Absalom for my sake."  And when he hears of Absalom's death he weeps and mourns.

David's love for the sinful Absalom is a wonderful hint at the character and magnitude of God's love for us.  We have rejected God, we have used what He's given us to oppose, even to attack Him.  Despite all that, He loves us, He mourns our separation from Him, and wants only for us to be reconciled to Him.  

How do we respond?  If you're like me, you sin.  And however strong your prayer life, when you sin, you are ashamed, and you do EXACTLY the same thing Adam and Eve did - you hide.  You separate yourself from God.  I read today's reading and think how much of a counterproductive idiot I've been.  When I sin - as I inevitably will - my response shouldn't be to hide myself from God's love.  It should be to repent of my rebelliousness and run right back to Him.  He is mourning the separation my sin has caused.  He wants only for us to be reconciled.

Father, the guilt of our sinfulness make it difficult to remember how much You love us, how You only want for us to be with You, and You have done everything necessary to make that happen.  Rather than hide ourselves in shame, teach us to rise up, turn around, and run back to You.