What Kind of Love is This?

Love is pretty crazy thing, isn't it?

I've been thinking about this concept of love more lately with Ezekiel's entrance into our lives. Six weeks old in this world and I absolutely love him. He's cute, makes entertaining sounds, adds joy to our lives -- but he can also be a turkey. Explosive diaper content, staying wide awake when I so desperately want him to sleep (and honestly, that's the worst it's been). Even though his cuteness alone is enough to make us love him, Zeke's never paid us to love him; he's never paid us to feed him, change his diapers, and give him baths. Our love for Zeke has caused us to sacrifice sleep, forgo certain fun activities, and rearrange aspects of our lives for him. And where does that love come from? We love him because he's our son. We love him because the Lord has entrusted him to us.

The Lord's love is similar -- except on a much grander, magnificent, awe-striking scale. We've never done anything to deserve the Lord's love. We've never paid Him to provide for our every need, let alone for our salvation. In fact, we probably do more things to make the Lord's heart heavy - our sin is not cute - and yet, He still loves us. Despite every selfish thought, every self-righteous action, every angry word spoken, He loves us.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 (emphasis added)

"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:6,8 (emphasis added)

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitation for our sins." - 1 John 4:10

To be honest, I really don't understand God's love. Why does He love us when we do so much wrong? Perhaps it's similar to Jordan and I's love for Ezekiel . . . the Lord loves us because we are His creation. Despite everything we do, He loves us. What an awesome, incredible truth.

Praise the Lord we don't have to understand it in order to receive it. Praise the Lord that His love is not dependent upon what we do. Praise the Lord that His love never fails!

(I know I've posted this song many times before . . . but can it ever get old?) 

"He is jealous for me . . . I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me . . . We are His portion and He is our prize . . . Oh, how He loves us!"