Do You Still Love Me?

Ruthie got into trouble at dinner tonight. Nothing major, just a bit of rebellious running around and not eating her food. When I told her firmly that she was facing discipline if she didn't correct her behavior, her little head dropped down to her chest and she started to get emotional. Thinking this was a ploy to get out of obeying, I reminded her that she needed to eat her dinner. She lifted one forkful of food to her mouth and I encouragingly said, "That's better, sweetie." She looked up at me with her big, blue eyes and answered, "But, do you still love me?"
Talk about piercing a mama's heart!
I immediately picked her up and showered her with kisses and hugs telling her over and over that I did indeed love her and that nothing she could ever, ever say or do or think or be would cause me to stop loving her. She threw her arms around me and said, "Good!" and went back to her chair to finish dinner. All was right as rain in Ruthie's world, but it made me start thinking about our Father's love for us....
Haven't we all wondered that same question, "Do You, God of the universe, Creator of all things, Master Planner, Infinite Wisdom, still love me, a nobody, nothing sinner, always getting it wrong, unable to make it right, unworthy of this life you have given me?" Isn't that the root question everyone is asking, whether they know the power of Christ's love or not--Do You still love me, God? After all I have done. After all I haven't done. After all You have given me when I deserve nothing...do You still love me?

If you don't know or don't remember or need to see it written down, the answer is a resounding YES! The very nature of God makes it impossible for Him not to love you and me and every other person He created. You see, God is love (1 John 4:16). Not the kind of love you and I demonstrate each day--that shaky "I-love-you-because-I-get-something-out-of the-deal" love--but real self-sacrificing love. We can't even come close to the kind of love God is.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
God gave up His own beloved Son so that we could spend eternity with Him. He gave up Himself to make us free to choose Him, free from sin and its' eternal death sentence, free to learn to love as He loves.
And the great thing is, He still loves you and me today. When we ask in our hearts the same question my little girl asks, "Do You still love me, Father God?" He scoops us up and lavishes us with His great love and mercy and truth and grace, reminding us that we only need look at the cross for the answer. Yes, He still loves me. Yes, He still loves you. Yes, yes, yes...the answer will always and forever be the same. No matter what you have done or what you will do, He still loves you. No matter where you go or don't go, He still loves you. No matter what you say or don't say, He still loves you. His love won't run out, turn away, fizzle, dry up, turn cold. It will remain. It will be the one constant in our lives--what a joy and comfort to know that!

Thank You, Father, for reminding me that You do indeed still love and always will love me. Use this post, Lord, to remind someone else that You love them, too. Minister to our hearts and bless us with Your peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.