For many, childhood brings a flood of memories, and as we remember, we may find ourselves landing on the pleasant ones.  For example:

I remember riding in the pick-up with my dad at the wheel.  I was very young at the time (pre-teen), and we stopped downtown, but what town, I do not recall, for I was just a kid.  In remembering this day, I remember dad parked along the sidewalk, and mom climbed out of the pick-up, but I do not recall why or where she went.  The moment I remember most from this memory is that  Dad climbed out of the truck, leaving us kids in the truck to wait.  Yes, times were different back then, back in the 1970s.  We waited, and soon dad reappeared on the sidewalk and moved toward us.  We noticed he carried a brown-paper sack.  When he climbed back into the pick-up, I remember his shoulder brushing against me, for I was closest to him.  He turned toward us kids, asking:

“Do you want some chocolate?” and I remember saying, “Oh, yes.  Yes, I most definitely do want some.”

Now, dad did not just ask the question and turn back, refusing us some chocolate, keeping the bag of chocolate closed.  He did not ask us, only to deny us.  He also did not ask his kids, only to keep what he had purchased separate from us, his children.

No, the opposite was true; he asked, we answered, “Yes,” and then he opened his bag of chocolate and shared the sweetness he had purchased—for us.

• What does it mean to be a Christian, to receive God’s love ? &
• How does God love?

Pause to really consider the questions.

If we say, “I am a Christian,” then what would others notice about us?  If a person heard you and I proclaim to be a Christ-followers, then would our actions portray the Person in whom we believe?

The prophet Jeremiah records—

“The LORD appeared to him from afar, . . .”

The nation of Israel was deep in their sin, a sin-sickness.  No healing could be found.  Distressed and reminded of their faults committed, the people further recalled the love of God.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;“

Jeremiah records the words of the LORD for His people, for the ones who were sin-soaked and far from God.  To fully understand, we need to ask:  How long is “everlasting”?

• Does God love us tomorrow as well as today?
• Could God’s love carry even into our tomorrow-after-tomorrow-after-tomorrow?
• Will God love us only when are able to live mistake-free, or will He love us in spite of where we stand in the moment?  &
• Will God’s love really continue, extending into all the seasons of our lives?

There are many answers to these questions.  YES!  YES!  YES!  YES!

Get the picture?

For twenty-six verses, the psalmist enumerates his thankfulness for the work of the LORD, followed by:   “For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Twenty-six times, he reminds us that God’s Love Lasts Forever!  I do not think the psalmist wants us to forget.  In fact, I believe the Word of God has been given to us to read so that we will NEVER forget:

“For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

This means, God does not love us with a love that will die or fade away after a season of time.

His love was divinely purchased—for us—on Calvary’s cross by Jesus, His only begotten Son.

God’s love runs after us  &  God’s love is His pledge to us—

So we will receive Him as our God.  &  So we will be His people.

There is no other Love like God’s love!

Nothing but the saving grace of the LORD brings one to receive God’s salvation!

We are not needful of anything but only the appearing of the LORD in our life. JESUS is the One who shatters the darkness of our soul and brings to into His restoration.

• God wants each one of us to experience His Amazing Love.
• God sent His Only Begotten Son—Jesus—so we might willing choose to receive His Gift.
• God sent Jesus, the Only One who could have purchased this gift of LOVE for us.

When I recall the day so long ago—

I remember dad climbing into the driver’s seat of the pick-up and his shoulder brushing against me.

I remember how dad turned toward us, asking:  “Do you want some chocolate?”

I remember saying aloud and down deep inside, “Oh, yes.  Yes, I most definitely do want some.”

• Thank goodness that dad did not just ask his question and then turn away, refusing to share his chocolate with us.
• Thank goodness dad did not keep the bag closed.
• Thank goodness he did not ask us, only to deny us the privilege of tasting the candy’s goodness.  &
• Thank goodness, he also did not ask us his question, only to keep what he had purchased separate from us—his children.

That day when I responded:  “Oh, yes.  Yes, I most definitely do,” then dad opened his bag of chocolate and shared the sweetness he had purchased—bought especially for each one of us.

• The LORD speaks to each person alive, saying—

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;”

• The LORD appears and beckons each one to His Love.
• The LORD, the FATHER of mankind, reminds us how He calls us to Himself—

“I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

• The LORD speaks, appears, beckons, and reminds.

The response is ours (each child’s) to give to the LORD.

Our reply to the LORD’S question—HIS offered Saving Grace—This is ours to accept, to receive.