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Jeremiah 31:3 - God's Great Love! [addendum]

Jeremiah 31:3 - God's Great Love!  [addendum]

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: 
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with 
loving-kindness. 

Though most of Jeremiah is bad news, chapters 30 to 33 are good 
news. These chapters have been called the "Book of Consolation" or the 
"Little Book of Comfort" because of their message of hope. [Youth SB] 

  If we search for any reason for God's promise of restoration 
in the people of Judah themselves, we'll be disappointed. Nothing 
in their character or actions was attractive. Nothing merited God's 
consideration. Instead the reason Jeremiah gave was simply that God had chosen 
to love His people "with an everlasting love." It is the overflow 
of His "loving-kindness," a term that speaks of God's compassionate 
commitment to His covenant promises, which lies at the root of His 
actions. 
  It is the same with us today. When God sent His Son into the 
world, it was to save His enemies! He saved us despite, not because of, 
what we are. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 
5:8). Let's never fall into the error of thinking that God saved us, 
or will save another person, because we are "good" or "nice" or 
somehow deserve His favor. 
  And what a blessing this is! The nicest of us are flawed, and 
if we had to depend on our own works, would be uncertain about 
gaining God's gift. But since all depends on the love of God, we can be 
confident and sure. God's love is boundless, and as Jeremiah says, 
"everlasting." Only because we rely completely on the love of God can we say 
with confidence that we have been, are being, and surely will be 
"saved." 
  No wonder Jeremiah called on Judah to "sing with joy" and 
"make your praises heard." Trust in the love of God will turn our 
"mourning into gladness," and will give us "comfort and joy instead of 
sorrow." [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

  Unfailing Love
  Receive God's love and accept your place as a dearly loved 
child in His heavenly family. 
  Accept the love that came in the form of a newborn babe.
  Accept the forgiveness and grace bought for you through the 
cruel, nail-piercing reality of the Cross. 
  Accept His love won for you through the victory of His 
resurrection. 
  Let this love worth giving fill you, flood you, and change you 
forever. 
  Live in the knowledge and acceptance of this love.
  Live loved.
  Remember, God loves you simply because He has chosen to do so.
  He loves you when you don't feel lovely.
  He loves you when no one else loves you.
  Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you, but God 
will love you. 
  Always.
  No matter what. by Max Lucado

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

Grace Notes:
http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

A Better Way to Live:
http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/

More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com