God’s love for mankind is not neither debatable nor to be proven because He has demonstrated this beyond reasonable doubt. “God is love” (1Jn 4:8). God’s love is a selfless love that embraces the entire world of sinful humankind (Jn 3:16; Rom 5:8). The chief expression of that love was His sending of His only Son, Jesus, to die for sinners (1Jn 4:9-10). In addition, God has a special family love for those who through Jesus are reconciled to Him.

“For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God,” (John 16:27).

“The Father, Himself, loves you.” The Father loves all people (3:16). But, it is also true that He has a special family love for those who through Jesus are reconciled to Him, love Him and remain loyal to Him even while enduring trouble in this world (v.33). Our affection for Jesus brings forth the Father’s affection for us. Love responds to love.

Restoration Of Israel (Read Jer. 30:31)
“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you,” (Jer 31:3).

God reaches toward his people with kindness motivated by deep and everlasting love. He is eager to do the best for them if they will only let him. After many words of warning about sin, this reminder of God’s magnificent love is a breath of fresh air. Rather than thinking of God with dread, look carefully and see him lovingly drawing us toward himself.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12: Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13: And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14: I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive,” (Jer 29:11-14).

29:11 We’re all encouraged by a leader who stirs us to move ahead, someone who believes we can do the task he has given and who will be with us all the way. God is that kind of leader. He knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope. As long as God, who knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill his mission, we can have boundless hope.

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