The Power of God’s Unconditional and Forgiving Love

Daily Devotional – Sunday, January 3, 2022

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.

Psalms 139:2 (NKJV)

When betrayal happens, there is always a feeling of regret for not knowing the traitor well. We feel that we should have done due diligence on the character and person of the betrayer before trusting him or her.

Now, what if you could read a person’s thoughts and realize the individual was vile and dangerous? Would you still keep that person close to you? Would you love that individual despite their evil and threatening behaviour?

Think of Jesus. For more than three years, He lived and dined with Judas Iscariot, the man who would later betray Him? Why did Jesus tolerate Judas for so long? What does that tell us about the character of God?

God Knows Our Thoughts and Plans

Let us delve into Psalm 139 for some clues. From the onset, the Psalmist is clear on one thing: God has a perfect knowledge of human beings. David says, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me.” (Psalms 139:1).

The verses that follow shed more light:

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.” (Psalms 139:2-4)

Unlike human beings who cannot read our thoughts, God knows our motives and plans. Our Father knows the thoughts that we would not dare reveal to any other person.  He reads our most disgraceful, abhorrent and sinister thoughts.

God Loves Us Unconditionally

If our friends and family members could read our thoughts and know our secrets, not many would live with us anymore. Some would even disown us in public. Perhaps a few would tolerate us but still keep a safe distance from us.

Not with God. Despite knowing all the negative things about us, He loves us unconditionally. Paul marvels, “… God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

God did not ask us to repent first before sending His Son to die for us. That is why John said, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10).

The Purpose of God’s Unconditional Love

God continues to love us unconditionally, even when our thoughts, words and actions contradict His perfect will. His unfathomable love and grace are meant to lead us back to Him, as Paul observes:

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4).

This is the same message in Jeremiah 31:3, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” How wonderful it is to know that God loves us despite our sinfulness?

God Wants Us to Choose His Unconditional Love

God gives us the freedom to choose whether to accept His love, repent and live for Him. Even those who reject Him will attest that Jesus pursued them relentlessly. Whether we will be save or not depends on how we respond to God’s unconditional love.

Loving Father, thank You for loving me unconditionally. Lead me to repentance and a life of holiness.S2