Title: God Is Still Love
Isaiah (119) God is still love (Isaiah 49:8-17)
< God's unchanging love >
Think of someone who was cured of a fatal disease such as cancer. In fact, the rest of his life is a bonus. Therefore, if you have a humble heart, you can live a life of gratitude. However, the saints are people who have been cured of a disease that will go to hell. So the rest of the saint's life is a real bonus. Therefore, no matter what kind of disease you have, no matter what hardships and trials you face, give thanks for the wonderful grace of salvation alone throughout your life.
There is no regret in God's choice. God will restore Israel from captivity at the right time (v. 8). At that time, He will give you light and will give you your daily bread so that you will not go hungry or thirsty or hurt (verses 9-10). He will also open the way for the Israelites to return from all directions (verses 11-12). God's love is greater than a parent's love for a young child (verse 15). So he will engrave his children on the palm of his hand and watch over them (verse 16).
The problem isn't the lack of love. Not knowing love is the problem, and not believing in love is the problem. The sufferings and trials of the saints are not evidence that God has forsaken them. Rather, it means to draw closer to God. Even in desperate situations, remember God's love, "I have engraved your name on the palm of my hand." That love is the source of hope and happiness.
Even in a dark situation, thanks to God's love, we can get up again and go toward our dreams and visions. When the vitality of God flows into you like this, you are freed from your self-absorbed self and live a life of love for others, and you are truly grateful to God. Now, instead of being grateful because stocks, house prices, and land prices have risen, be thankful for being freed from such greed, enjoying the mystery of life every day, and having a heart to become someone's neighbor.
<God is still love>
Someone asked Elder Yonggi Kim, who founded the Canaan Agricultural School. “Elder, are you happy?” Then the elder answered. “No, thank you.” If you cling to happiness, you will easily feel unhappy, but if you realize and give thanks that life itself is a gift from God, then you will be given real happiness. Even on cloudy days, do not lose gratitude. In God, the end is the beginning. So, even the difficulties will surely work together to become the material of goodness to create creative works.
God is still love. Don't shake that belief. In life, even if you live in the spirit of Jesus, sometimes it seems that life has little fruit and reward. In fact, living in the spirit of Jesus makes you feel even more lonely because you are on the way to the cross. Can you still believe that God is love even in that lonely place? Whenever such a question arises, think of the loneliness of Jesus on the cross.
When Jesus was crucified, God did the same. Even in such a moment of deepest suffering, God's love does not stop. So, if you are sure of your salvation, don't be too afraid to fall on the path of life. If you are in faith, the place where you fall will rather be the place where you will stand up, and the more you fall, the more you will grow spiritually. Sometimes the night of life comes, but as long as we are in faith, the night becomes a haven. Because then you can look back at yourself and then you can rest.
One father, when his son was in high school, went to the bus stop at 11:30 every night to wait, and when the child got off the bus, he took the backpack instead. It was because my son was stronger, but he wanted to relieve his tiredness. Even people with no power want to bear the burden of their son, so won't Almighty God take care of our burden? The problem is that we don't trust God and worry about ourselves and get restless.
God said, “I have engraved you on the palm of my hand!” No matter how humble you are, remember that your name is engraved in the palm of God. So, under all circumstances, never waver in our faith in the love of God who still loves us. With such unwavering faith, experience the hand of God who opens the best way, and become blessed hearts who always live with joy and gratitude.