Turning Your Own Way

The love of God is not dependent upon who we are but who He is. We are incapable of earning God’s affection. Isaiah, the prophet to the nation of Israel, said:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa 53:6)

Born as a sinner, we start on a path that will and has led us “astray” and do not seek after God. This is the outcome of the fallen nature of humanity. Apostle Paul makes this observation about our spiritual condition:

 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom 3:10-12)

God’s love is the power for us to change our lives.The Scriptures make this comment about how we are able to overcome our fallen condition:

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Tit 3:3-5)

The kindness of God is demonstrated by loving us. His love for us did not begin when we loved Him back but God’s love was directed at you before you even acknowledged God’s existence. The letter Apostle Paul sent to the Christians in Rome makes the observation about the nature of God’s love:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

The word ‘commendeth’ is understood to mean “stand with or to draw near.”

God’s love was not just directed towards you but He sought you out while you were deep in the darkness of sin. Jesus said:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)

The love of God that was commended to you was how you came to know Jesus.

God did not just send His Son, He “commendeth” His love to seek you out and stand with you so you could know Jesus. God’s love is the motivation for Jesus’ coming to the world, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16)

God not only loves you, He seeks to have you love Him back. To love God back will make you aware that God is not just there now but has always been with you. To acknowledge God and receive His grace is a life-changing experience.

Not only are you granted a place in His Kingdom, you are endowed with His Spirit that moves you from the darkness of sin and into God’s will. Apostle Peter states what happens when you love God back:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Pe 2:9)

Do you know God is standing with you? Have you loved Him back? Acknowledge God today and repent of your sin and the “marvelous light” will change not just where you are going to spend eternity but God’s love will give you joy and peace while you live out your life on this side of Heaven.