Love Letter #5 - Grace

Moses went up to Mt. Sanai to talk with God (can you imagine that?).  The Israelites were getting tired of waiting for Moses to come down and they may have feared that something had happened to him.  They wanted someone something to lead them, so they came up with making a golden calf to worship.

Long story short - God wanted to destroy the people of Israel for idol worshipping...again, Moses sought the favor of the Lord and asked Him to spare them, the Lord didn't destroy the Israelites, Moses saw the calf, got angry and broke some tablets (the ones inscribed by the finger of God), God told Moses to chisel out two more tablets to replace the broken ones, and Moses did just that.

Then God said this:

"The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.  

Exodus 34:6-7

The Israelites didn't get it.  They were stubborn.  The Bible calls them "stiff-necked".  Even though God had shown His faithfulness to them over and over.

I don't get it.  I am stubborn.  I guess you could call me "stiff-necked".  Even though God has shown His faithfulness to me over and over.

I am a sinner.  I do wicked things and I rebel against His will

Yet He loves me...and He loves you.  His love is perfect.

What I've learned: He gives us everything we don't deserve - compassion, love, patience.






What I've learned:

Love Letter #4 - Worship

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

Exodus 20:4-6

Success, money, clothes, T.V., your children, body image, shopping, food, your husband, how you are perceived by others, job, house, cars, hobbies, etc. - etc. - etc.  These are idols.

Not just golden calves.

Children are a gift from God, but don't make them your god.  A home is something to be very thankful for, but don't make it your god.  Hobbies are meant to be enjoyed, but don't make the reactions you get from others about your work your god.

"All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. " Isaiah 44:9

God deserves all of our worship.  The best part - you don't have to be in a church to worship.  You don't even have to be singing songs to worship.  You can worship God by giving your baby a bath and thanking Him for that precious life before you.  You can worship God by making your home a haven for people to come too.  You can worship God by blessing others with the talents He has given you.  Your entire life can be worship to God.

When I'm giving my worship to God, my children (hopefully this will someday be plural) will see it.

When I give my worship to other gods,  my children will see it.
I want my children and their children and their children and so on and so on to experience God's love.

What I've learned:  God is a jealous God who wants all of my praise.

Love Letter #3 - Faithfulness

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.  In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Exodus 15:13

The Israelites had just experienced a miracle.  The Egyptians were after them.  God had parted the Red Sea  to allow the Israelites to cross safely and swept the water back over as the Egyptians began to cross.  Not one of them survived.

This love verse is tucked in the middle of a song that Moses and the Israelites sang after God's amazing provision during their exile.  Because of God's faithfulness, the Israelites now know that God will {future}lead them and He will {future}guide them.

When the Israelites were praising God in their song, they were saying very specifically what God had done for them.  I think I need to do this too.  Instead of praising God in general, I need to name the ways he has been faithful to me.

What I've learned:  Remembering God's faithfulness in the past will help me trust in His faithfulness for my future.

Love Letter #2 - Comfort

Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah.  So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Genesis 24:66

What I've learned: Having someone to love, can bring comfort during difficult times.

I never claimed I would have deep, scholarly responses...

Love Letter #1 - Sacrifice

Some time later God tested Abraham.  He said to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

Genesis 22:1-2

Abraham did just that.  He took his son, his only son, bound him up - knife in hand to sacrifice his son, his only son, because that's what God told him to do.

I'm sure Abraham didn't understand what was going on, but because he loved God, he was willing to obey.

It was a test.  God stopped Abraham and sent a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac's place.

I love God.
I say I love God.  What would I be willing to sacrifice?  What am I willing to sacrifice?

This is going to sound silly, but hang with me...

God has been prioritizing my priorities lately.  Too much Tv.  Too much facebook.  Too much time doing things for myself.  Too much of my day going by without spending time with Him.  Too much time thinking about myself before I think of others.  I could go on and on, but you get the point.

{So now, I have this extremely silly picture in my head of me carrying our tv up a mountain and laying it on the altar.  Don't worry, Wes, I won't do it.}

Am I willing to change my priorities to make more time for things that are going to honor and glorify Him?  Because I love Him, my answer needs to be yes.
What I've learned:  My actions are a reflection of my love for God.