Lovingkindness

​What is something you really love about God? A character trait, truth or promise about Him that warms your heart every time you think about it?
For me, it is the eternal truth that God, my Heavenly Father, has a heart beating with lovingkindness for His sons and daughters.  
Just reading, hearing or saying the word “lovingkindness” stirs my spirit in a wonderful way. In light of living in a spiritually/morally lost world that knows little of love or kindness, God’s lovingkindness is refreshing, renewing and re-energizes me to do my best to witness to others about the lovingkindness of the Lord. 
Life can be very hard without God’s lovingkindness.
The lovingkindness of the Lord takes the hard, harsh, hurtful edge off life. I know you know what I mean. We have all been there, done that and don’t want the T-shirt when life crashes in with harshness, heaviness, helplessness and hopelessness.  
A little lovingkindness goes a long way when life is difficult.
According to the Bible, the nation of Israel had experienced a very difficult time during a season of captivity and slavery. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God spoke these comforting, hope-filled words to His people who were down-trodden, depressed and defeated.
“The Lord appeared to him from afar saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness”. Jeremiah 31:1
Imagine you are trudging down a dusty, sun-scorching, seemingly endless road from a brutal captivity. Brutally beaten up and beaten down, you can’t but help but wonder if there is a future and hope for you and your loved ones. Life looks grim at best.
Then you hear these words that shine a glimmer of light on your darkness.  Oh my, what a lift to your soul! God’s messenger communicates I, your Lord and God, have not lost sight of you, never forgotten you. From a long way off, even though you drifted far away from Me, I have loved you. I loved you, love you now and will always love you because My love is everlasting.
Therefore, I have drawn, pulled you to Me. How? Through My lovingkindness toward you. 
God’s lovingkindness is a magnet that draws you and me to His heart.
Many times, throughout my life, God has drawn Steve Roll with His lovingkindness. His everlasting, lovingkindness bridged His heart and mine. Words seem so hollow and shallow for me to try and explain how I feel about God’s unconditional, everlasting love for me.
I don’t deserve His lovingkindness. I know that full well. But, thank God, He, not me, passes judgment on my life. The Father judged my sin and failure through the voluntary sacrifice of His only Son Jesus on the Cross. Jesus paid the debt, the wages of my sin. The ransom for me has been paid in full! I am redeemed by the holy, precious blood of the Lamb. Eternal life is my destiny through faith in Christ.
How has this happened? Simply and gloriously, God’s lovingkindness for a sinner like me has saved my soul.  Hallelujah!
Every day I do my best with God’s help to walk by faith, confidently knowing His lovingkindness is foundational to His faithfulness. God will never cease to be loving or kind.
You Can Experience The Lovingkindness Of The Lord

• First, and foremost, study the Bible. Consult Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. Read scriptures and passages that reveal God’s lovingkindness toward us.
• Secondly, personally (that means you!) receive His lovingkindness. No matter how life has or is treating you, open your heart. Let the lovingkindness of the Lord touch and fill your heart.  God’s lovingkindness is ever-present for the taking.
• Thirdly, stop being so hard on yourself. That’s right. Too many of us, including me, often lose sight of the love and kindness of God toward us, causing us to be unloving and unkind toward ourselves and others. I do not like me when I lose sight of God’s lovingkindness.
• Fourthly, ask the Lord for opportunities to share His lovingkindness with others. People who have lost their way in life and are hurting need to know that the God of the Bible is a loving, kind, caring, redemptive God.
• Fifthly, thank God for His lovingkindness every day. Rise up with unbridled praise to Him for being loving and kind toward you. Rejoice that God’s lovingkindness is yours in Christ!
• “Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise Thee.” Psalm 63:3

Two points to ponder today.

1. If you need loved today, draw upon the lovingkindness of a loving, kind God. Go ahead, right now, open your heart. Let God love on you with kindness, goodness, hopefulness, peace and joy. Receive His lovingkindness and thank Him for it.

 

1. Share, don’t hoard, the lovingkindness of the Lord. Who do you know that needs to experience and enjoy the lovingkindness of the Lord in their life? What if you are the one God has anointed and appointed to introduce them to His lovingkindness? Will you pray, follow the Holy Spirit’s leading and in a winsome way, share with people you care about how much God loves them and how kind He is in that love?

I love the lovingkindness of the Lord. How about you?
 “But You oh Lord are a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.” Psalm 86:15
“How precious is Your lovingkindness oh Lord, and the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalms 36:7
“The Lord’s lovingkindness indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
A Word For Your Week: God’s lovingkindness is yours today through faith in Jesus Christ.