Picture God's Love............for You

Can you see God running toward you, embracing you in his arms and kissing you? God sees himself loving you exactly this way.

Jesus says in Luke, "And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him......'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' ......We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'"

Can you see God coming to live with you and him singing a happy song over you because he is so exultant and overjoyed to be with you?

God says through the prophet Zephaniah that Yes! He will do exactly that. "For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song."

Can you picture God desiring you so compassionately that he is willing to suffer a very cruel and harsh punishment that you deserve just so he can be with you and enjoy wonderful experiences of loving companionship with you? He did just that.

Matthew describes Jesus' punishment in your place like this,"They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head.......they spit on him and grabbed the stick and beat him on the head with it. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified........nailed him to the cross..........he hung there.........And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery...........At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"......Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit."

What next? "At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.". You are now given access to experience God's love and presence. We, individually, were the very purpose for his suffering.......the ONLY purpose for his great suffering.