No Limit On God's Love

There is no force in the universe more powerful than God's love for us. We humans experience limitations of all kinds. We usually are able to love ... up to a point. Human love can be weakened by circumstances, by disappointments, by betrayal. God's love never grows weak. He will never abandon us.
Now we see only part of the story: as through a dim mirror, I Corinthians 13:12 tells us. But someday we will see Christ face-to-face. Then we will know fully, just as we are fully known.
Then we will see exactly how wide and long and high and deep is Christ's love for us. Someday we will have unlimited access to His Presence: an eternal ecstasy. For now, His loving presence is sufficient to get us through our day.
Thoughtfully read and meditate on Ephesians 3:16-19, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

There's No Use Pretending with Jesus

We all try to make a good impression on the people we meet. We use clothes and scents and creams and make-up to look our best. We want the world to see the version of us that puts us in the best light. But sometimes we don't really feel as 'together' as we like to appear.
I Samuel 16:7 tells us, "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature ... for God see not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  
When you're dealing with God, trying to put a good face on things is pointless. He sees you as you really are ... warts and all. He knows your deep dark secrets and your greatest fears. You may manage to fool all the people all the time ... but you don't fool God.
And you know the amazing part? The part that's really hard to understand? He loves you anyway. He knows the worst, yet still want to be your friend. What a relief to hear the astounding news of Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
This is the essence of the gospel. This is the Good News. God didn't wait to send you a savior until you had your act together. He didn't wait until you could prove you were worth saving. God sent his son to die for you while you were still covered in the dirt of every lie you've told, every petty theft from your employer, every mean thing you've said about a friend, covered in the dirt of every sin ... big or small. He loves you that much. He takes your weaknesses and makes them into strengths. He reforms your faults so you can help others. He knows you better than you know yourself.
Yes, truly, there's no use pretending with Jesus. He wants you to be the person you were always meant to be.

Whatever Today Brings, Jesus is There With You

As your day begins, you have only a vague idea of what may happen. Yes you have plans and schedules and chores but you cannot be certain about how your day will turn out. Only God knows your future.
Although we don't know what will happen today, we do know that Jesus will be right beside us. He will help us with any difficulties and rejoice with us in our victories. Don't you love the promise of Romans 8:38-39? "For I am convinced that neither death, not life, no angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, no depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
You heard that right: nothing outside ourselves can separate us from God's love. But we can separate ourselves. We can choose to ignore or reject Jesus' love. That's why it is so important to spend a few minutes with him at the beginning of each day. We get back in touch with our master. We pray for ourselves and others. We praise and glorify His name. When we fail to spend quality time with Jesus, we will be unprepared for what the day brings.
I love how The Message paraphrases our scripture in Romans: "I'm absolutely convinced that nothing ... nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable ... absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."
"Embraced by Jesus." That's what my heart desires. As long as I'm held close to my master's heart, anything and everything that happens to me or around me is not going to change the fact that I'm loved by God.
We don't need a map for the road ahead. We have the one who made the road, who made us, and who will never abandon us. What is there to fear? We know that Jesus is there with us.