We Love Because He first Loved Us |Daily Post #4|

It's funny writing about something that happened so recently... In my life, I've always wondered what it is I am looking for in searching for a spouse. Do I try to find someone pretty? Or someone kind? Or maybe someone who has great faith? Yet the fundamental question becomes: What do I get get get from this relationship?

This self-centered approach is a basic utilitarian approach that is second nature to most off us. What can this person give me? What utility or advantage is there in dating him/her?

And growing up I've tried to search and kissed countless frogs to "find" that there is no right one person. I've always wondered if love truly was about compatibility. Today's post will be divided into four categories: Prelude, Lori Anne Thompson, The Parable of the Lost Sheep, Hosea & Gomer.

Prelude

In Java there is a basic consensus: "bobot, bibit, bebet". Firstly, someone's "bobot" or who they are as a person— faith/belief, education, work, personality. Secondly, "bibit" or nurture who their ancestry, family or lineage is. Lastly that their "bebet" or social status, their prestige or economic status. These three pillars have actually influenced me personally in looking for the 'right' spouse. And in my search I have found that we do tend to filter out those who are different than us. And accept those similar to us in the most important aspects...

Yet today when reading up about Jeremiah's story I was reminded differently:

The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God pronounced this disaster against this place. The LORD has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. Jeremiah 40:2-3 ✊

Jeremiah's story takes place at a time when Judah was taken captive by Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar. By this time the captain of the guard reiterated what the LORD said about fulfilling His judgment towards Judah. Why? Because Judah sinned against the LORD repeatedly, and did not repent when given the chance... Reading this touched my heart.😭. Because how my Lord truly gave me chance after chance to repent. Why did I harden my heart? 😔. In my previous life, I met my old youth leader and told him off my sexual immoral life. He told me the importance of understanding God's heart and motivation. He once told me that not everything in the Bible is not "black" or "white" nor is everything literal. That we should live a holy and faithful life first and foremost.

As the Old Testament laws are suitable their historical context it's not always translatable to our times. Yet what's important is the Lord's intention and purpose in creating those laws. Also that He gives us the freedom to choose:

Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. Jeremiah 40:4 🔓🆓

Shocking isn't it?😱. That a holy and just God is also truly loving. And as such if He "loves" us, He wouldn't "control" us. Because that goes against His nature. Yet He gives us the freedom and space to make our own decisions. Just like Jeremiah was given freedom, by "going" to Babylon He is able to serve the Lord. Yet by staying in Judah, Jeremiah is also able to serve the Lord.... When I read this I broke down.😭. I literally cried in repentance. I should've taken responsibility then and tried to live a holy life. Yet also I am at awe how even in my mistake, the Lord gave me options and freedom to choose from. I finally understood the message He gave me from three years ago...

That love isn't about bibit bebet bobot, it's much more than what we get or what we give, but as in all things, do we glorify God in our relationship? Is this God's will that we are to be a couple?

Lori Anne Thompson

Recently, my whole concept of love really changed by reading up on Ravi Zacharias' story and his cheating allegation. In a previous post, we learnt that a great preacher even like Ravi Zacharias is fully human. He can and will fall into sin. That we are not to take sin lightly and how we should always take heed lest we fall...

The gist off the story is that Ravi abused his power and position as well-respected religious leader. One off those victims was named Lori Anne Thompson who was silenced for her claims. So what happened to her then? Well, Ravi lived off his life and was remembered as a influential Christian apologist. While on the other hand, Thompson experienced a lot off heartache:

When reading Thompson's testimony the first inclination is to think "how could Ravi have done this?" Yet I think the bigger question is what does God want us to learn from this? I believe that through this testimony, we as Christians are cornered into evaluating our own personal motives. I learnt that maybe I have also hurt others just like Ravi did... I kept thinking. That despite Ravi being able to preach and having an influential ministry. Isn't living a holy and faithful life a precursor first? Isn't saving that one lost sheep worth more? To take responsibility when we make a mistake? What's the point in speaking about God if we don't live in His truths?

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Growing up, my life was full of hurt and scars. I resonate to the pain Thompson might have felt. When we are mistreated and abused, we feel unworthy. Broken. Dirty. And at a lost. Yet did you know Jesus never gave up on us? Jesus once spoke a parable:

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:1-7 🐑

This parable is one of my favorites. Why? Because Jesus truly didn't come to save the healthy but the sick. He never leaves any off His sheep behind. That one lost sheep is precious in His eyes. In my life. I was like that lost sheep and sometimes still am. I was like Lori Anne Thompson. Lost. Depraved. Disappointed and hurt by those in the Church. And you know? When I was hurt, I wanted to hurt others. I wanted to waste my life in sin and forget about everything. I thought I was okay. Hating the Bible. Living my life in ignorance... Yet one day. One day Jesus came to me and found me. In His perfect eyes and presence, I am pretty sure I looked messy, sinful, dirty, and broken. Yet why did He spend all those years trying to save me? Not only that, He forgave and healed me. And restored me until today. My broken wounds will never be truly gone, yet they are but scars now.... As I went through all that I rejoice, O Lord in thankfulness. Thank You! For finding me and loving me...

As John writes:

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 ❤️🤗

Hosea & Gomer

I would like to end this last section about Hosea & Gomer whose story inspired me in making me understand what love is. Hosea was a prophet of God who was asked to:

When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Hosea 1:2-3 👪

At this time Hosea lived in a time where Israel has strayed away from the Lord. He was a holy man living in the midst off sinful Israel. Any normal holy man would try to find another holy women for a family. Yet why did the Lord ask Hosea to have children with a women off whoredom? A faithless prostitute?

And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. Hosea 3:1-4 👩‍🎤

In this story, Gomer cheated on Hosea with another man. In the case off a cheating wife, a normal response would be to divorce Gomer. She broke the law and should be punished. Yet Hosea didn't. He followed what the Lord said. So Hosea searched Gomer and paid off her debts. In a total act of mercy, Hosea gave grace towards the sinful Gomer. Amazing. Isn't it? Why would he do such a thing? Because. Hosea & Gomer's story reflected God's faithful love towards the unfaithful Israel.

Just as how Israel has "whored" or strayed away from God, God still loved Israel. He punishes them in their sins. Yet just as the sinful Gomer was redeemed, Israel too one day will be redeemed:

Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days. Hosea 3:5 👑🕊️🌍

It is through this picture of hope and restoration do we see what true love is. True love is loving the Lord and following Him just like Hosea did. In being faithful. True love is loving whoever God has given us. Not what we can get. But what we can give. Love is not giving up on them just as the Lord NEVER gave up on us...

In my conquest off love, I finally finally loved my own "Gomer". She's that average girl next door. That has so many flaws. Yet also so imperfectly beautiful in my eyes... In this season off my life, we can't seem to understand each other or agree on the most important things. Yet. Just as God's love towards Israel is hopeful, how can I give up?

How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. Hosea 11: 8-9 ☀️😭

Just as God loved us as our Father, He taught us everything and loves us. Yet we rebel. We stray. We become like Gomer. And whore our selves. Running away from our loving Father. Yet God is emotionally torn. He is holy and wants to love us, but we keep falling into sin over and over again. Then how?

It is only through Jesus Christ are we restored and justified by faith that we are able to have a relationship with Him once more... 🤗

Reflection

Dear Lord, thank You for this season off my life. I have met many people yet only now do I truly understand... True love hurts. As Your love is so divine. I thank You for loving me and teaching me...

-from Jeremiah's story that You have given me chances to repent years ago

-from my ex-youth leader and Jeremiah's free will too choose. You also have given me free will in choosing my spouse

-from Ravi Zacharias, how I also have hurt my loved ones and to pursue holiness before God first and foremost

-from Lori Anne Thompson, that I need to be careful with my actions, and quickly repent before it damages others

-from Jesus' The Parable of the Lost Sheep, that in my hurt You continually pursued and rescued my unworthy self

-from Hosea, that it's important to be faithful in loving the Lord, even though Hosea had to marry an unfaithful woman

-from Gomer's redemption, that just as we have strayed, we too are redeemed in Christ, and one day we hope for Your return

Thank You Jesus for loving me in giving me chances to repent years ago. For giving me the free will daily. For teaching me the importance off a holy life. To quickly repent from hurting others and to be careful always. For rescuing me from my unworthy self. And most importantly to be faithful and responsible with my bestfriend..

To my best friend, if you are reading this, I hope one day this message may touch your heart just as it did mine. To know that a God so great has loved me is so amazing. His grace has changed me to experience true love. And I continue to hope that His grace may continue to fill our lives.

I don't really know when we can be together again or if we ever step in the same faith. Yet. I will love you because Christ first loved me. Not for my own gain but all for Him... Even if we are not together, I pray that You too will continue to grow in Him. And to follow Him. To experience His true love first. And to give that love to those He sends along your way. Too always remember that love is more than a verb. Love is experiencing Christ's love for us. As He died on the Cross for redeem our sins. Love never ends, just as Jesus's steadfast love endures in all things. That was. That is. And that is too come. Past. Present. And Future.