Inspirational Sunday

You're the only one that knows me.

Love it when you hold me.

I'll never find a love like this.

Now I'll never be lonely.

Look at what you've shown me.

I'll never find a love like this.

Natasha Bedingfield

Rae's Thought: This week's quote comes from one of my favorite songs, Love Like This, by Natasha Bedingfield. Although it's actually a secular song, I think it describes perfectly the love God has for His children.

You're the only that knows me. In John 10:14, Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd who knows his sheep. Second Timothy 2:19 tells us 'The Lord knows those who are his.' Now, you may say, "Sure God knows me, but is He really the only one that knows me? I mean, my family/friends/significant other knows me too." They may know you, but God knows you. He knows you down to the very fiber of your being. He knows every cell, every DNA strand, every hair on your head. Psalm 139:15 (Msg) says, "You know me inside and out. You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, how I was sculpted from nothing into something." God knows you even better than you know yourself! He knows how you think, what you're gonna do years from now...God knows EVERYTHING about you. He even knew you before you even existed.

Love it when you hold me. So, you may wonder how on earth can the Lord hold you? Psalm 73:23 tells us that He holds us by our right hand, meaning He guides us. But He does so much more than that. Isaiah 66:13 says, "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." When God comforts His children, it is equivalent to Him taking us in His arms and holding us. There's just something about being able to rest in God's arms.

Now I'll never be lonely. Once you join the family of God, He's with you forever. He promises, in Joshua 1:5, that He'll never leave us of forsake us (forsake: to leave someone who needs or counts on you). That means He'll be a constant in your life. Friends and family may leave you, but not God. He's there through good times and bad. Feeling lonely? Well, have you asked God to fill that loneliness with His presence? Try it and watch Him do just that.

Look at what you've shown me. Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). Being children of God opens our eyes to things that nonbelievers don't get to see (unless, of course, God gives them a glimpse). We look at the world differently, seeing it through God-inspired glasses. And when we look - I mean, really look - we notice how the Lord truly is good.

I'll never find a love like this. As much as your family, friends, spouse, or significant other may love you, their love can't touch the love of God. In her book, Praying God's Word Day By Day, Beth Moore states "The child of God who trusts God's love possesses security in salvation. We can know the Father will not reject us." I believe if people really knew and understand how much God loved them - if they truly experienced His love - we'd have a lot more people experiencing true freedom. He delights in His children. Out of all His creations, we're His most cherished. God is so in love with us, y'all! He longs for us to be in relationship with Him. 'How priceless is your unfailing love!' (Psalm 36:7) Unfailing, meaning He will always love us, no matter what. We may disappoint God with our actions, but we can never make Him stop loving us. Absolutely NOTHING can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). You know what's awesome? He knows you - the real you - and He still loves you. He loved you enough to sacrifice His only Son so that you may have eternal life. He knew you'd sin and hurt Him - knowingly and unknowingly - yet He chose to love you anyway. I agree with Natasha Bedingfield: we will never find a love like this!