The God Who Remembers

When I was pregnant with my oldest and started registering for baby items, I was overwhelmed by all the choices. One online supplier of all things baby had pages and pages of themed nursery items. You know, coordinating bumper, sheets, and skirt for the crib that come with matching mobile and wall decorations and anything else you can imagine. What was really popular at that time was having a Noah’s Ark themed nursery. While part of me understood why—what child doesn’t love animals? But part of me also was confused, after all, the story of Noah is the story of God wiping out nearly all of humanity because of sin.

Noah’s story is a story of both punishment for sin and a story of redemption. It’s a story that Jesus connects with himself in Matthew 24. It’s also a story of God’s covenant commitment to his people.

In Genesis 8, we read what happens after the flood. Noah and his family had been shut up in the ark for weeks and weeks. The flood had destroyed all living things on the earth. The chapter starts with: “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.” But God remembered. It seems like a strange use of words. Did God put Noah and his family in the ark, shut the door, turn on the spouts of the earth, then walk away and forget it all? Did he get busy doing other things while the ark floated along on the waves? Did he not remember all that took place leading up to the flood?

Unlike you and I, God is not forgetful. He knows all things and remembers all things. “The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man” (Ps. 33:13). “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13). That word, “remember” is a covenantal remembering. It refers to God keeping his covenant commitments. In this verse, it is used to show God remembering Noah by showing kindness, protection, and deliverance. God kept his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by completing his work of redemption in the remnant of Noah and his family. He then makes the waters recede so that Noah and his family can leave the ark. It’s the same remembrance God had for his people when they were in slavery in Egypt. Exodus 2:24 says, “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”

Our God is a covenant making and covenant keeping God. It’s how he relates to us. And nothing can keep his word from coming to pass. “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Num. 23:19). “…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Is. 55:11). This means, God always remembers.

And he will keep his promises to his people.

John Calvin, in commenting on Genesis 8, pointed out that Noah may have thought God had forgotten him in the ark. After all, he and his family were in there a long time. He suggests that their endurance in the ark was so that they would “meditate the more profitably on the judgments of Gods and when the danger was past, to acknowledge that they had been rescued from a thousand deaths.” Calvin then exhorts us, “Let us therefore learn, by this example, to repose on the providence of God, even while he seems to be most forgetful of us; for at length, by affording us help, he will testify that he has been mindful of us. What, if the flesh persuade us to distrust, yet let us not yield to its restlessness; but as soon as this thought creeps in, that God has cast off all care concerning us, or is asleep, or far distant, let us immediately meet it with this shield, The Lord, who has promised his help to the miserable will, in due time, be present with us, that we may indeed perceive the care he takes of us.”

Calvin encourages us that whenever we begin to wonder if God has forgotten us, or wonder if he might be busy doing other important things, to remember God’s promises to us. As Paul points out in Romans 8, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (v.32). If God has kept his promise to redeem us from sin, how could we think that he would not meet us in our current struggles and trials? After all he has done to rescue us, how could we think he has forgotten us now?

Our God has bound himself to us in covenant love and nothing can stop that love. Our God never forgets. He is a God who remembers.

Photo by Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash

Loving Our Children as the Father Loves Us

My oldest attends a school that goes on a week long trip every year to the beach where they study marine biology. Each year before they leave, the school asks each parent to write a letter to their child which the school will hand to the students during the trip. The purpose of the letter is to affirm and encourage their child. The school often shares stories of children who count those letters as their most treasured possession, even sharing about children who have since lost a parent and how much it means to them to have a handwritten record of their parent’s love for them.

I recently wrote my sixth letter to my son as he prepares to go on his last trip with his school. He will graduate this May and as the days pass by until he departs our home for college, I am filled with both joy and sadness. As I penned my letter to him, I couldn’t help but reflect on all that has happened in his life over the last six years. Of the growing pains— both in him and in my own heart as we navigated the often rocky terrain of adolescence. Of God’s wonderful work of grace in his heart. Of his maturity into a young man whom I truly enjoy being around. And of the unique ways God has gifted him.

As I thought of these things, I shared with him my heart and my hopes for him as he embarks on a new chapter in his life. I pointed out the ways I saw God working in his life. I reminded him of how much I love him and how proud I am to be his mom.

Words of love and affirmation are vital; they are life-giving. Anyone who has had someone simply say, “I love you and I’m proud of you” knows just how that feels, how it encourages, how it fuels us. These words speak to our hearts, to the core of who we are. They refresh us as water does for the thirsty. They fill us like a meal does after a day’s work. They comfort us as the sight of home does when we’ve been gone far too long.

When we affirm with our words, we do what our Father does for us. He speaks life giving words over us as well. The Bible itself is God’s love story for his people. It tells us how God chose us to be his own in eternity past (Eph. 1). It tells us how his loves pursues us, no matter how far we wander (Luke 15), how he sent Jesus to die on our behalf (Jn. 3:16), and that he loves us as much as he loves the Son (Jn. 17:23).

But God is not just a God of words; he is also a God of action. Likewise, love is not just a word or a feeling; it is a deed as well. God didn’t just tell us he loved us, he showed us the depths of his love by laying down his life for us. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16).

As parents, we must speak words of love to our children. We must tell them how special they are to us, that we love them no matter what, that we are proud to be their parents. But it is our actions that prove our love for them. We reveal our love for them in what we do.

Sometimes though, our actions can undermine the words that we say.

When our children were little, we read them a picture book titled, Anyway and Always by Bryan Chapell. It was a sweet story about a young girl who disobeyed and her father taught her that he loves her no matter what, even when she sins. I remember afterward, when our children did something wrong and we had to correct them, we would say that we loved them “anyway and always.”

From my new book, Like Our Father:

“You might think, “But of course I love my children unconditionally!” Yet there are times we may unknowingly add conditions to our love. Our children may perceive and receive our love as conditional. They grow up thinking we love and accept them only when they behave, or when they look a certain way, or when they perform at a certain level. They learn this when we criticize them or point out their flaws. Our children learn to associate love with behavior when they see us treat them differently than or compare them to a sibling who outperforms them in some way. They also see love as conditional when we emphasize externals and when they observe us prioritizing what other people think about us—when we respond in anger because they embarrassed us in some way in front of others. They experience our love as conditional when we shame them for not measuring up.

Instead, our children need to know they are loved no ma er what. Even when they fail. Even when they don’t perform as other children. Even when they misbehave. As parents, we must communicate, both in word and in deed, that we love our children no matter what—anyway and always.” (p. 154).

Consider the Father’s love for us and the lengths he went to in showing us that love. May our love for our children reflect the Father’s love. And may they see the Father’s love through us.

Like Our Father: How God Parents Us and Why that Matters for Our Parenting releases March 2 and is available for preorder now.

Psalm 36 and the Light of God's Steadfast Love

Life is filled with contrasts. Sweet and sour. Scratchy and soft. Cold and hot. Light and darkness. Such contrasts stand apart from each other like the poles of the earth.

The most stark contrast in the Bible is that of sinful humanity and the holiness of God.

In Psalm 36, David paints a picture of the sinner, of one who is far from God, juxtaposed against God and his steadfast love for his people.

The sinner is described as one who progressively steps into sin and finding no consequences, steps deeper still. He has no fear of God (v.1). He assumes that he’ll continue to get away with his iniquity (v.2), so he then devotes his life to sin (v.3). Before long, he lies on his bed in the dead of night, plotting and planning his evil deeds.

Like the flip of a switch, David then turns on the light and shows us God in all his glory. He describes his attributes:

• steadfast love (v.5)

• faithfulness (v.5)

• righteousness (v.6)

• perfect judgements (v.6)

• saving (v.6)

• a refuge (v.7)

• generous (v.8)

• life and light (v.9)

• defender and deliverer (v.11)

What marvelous contrasts! And ones our hearts need to see. As God’s children living in a fallen world, it is hard not to despair when sin seems to reign. The psalmist wants us to remember that God is on the throne and that he rules in perfect righteousness. In fact, the world is full of God’s goodness, righteousness, and steadfast love. He is the light that cuts into the darkness of this fallen and broken world. John Calvin encourages us: “however great the depth of wickedness which there is among men, and though it seems like a flood which breaks forth and overflows the whole earth, yet still greater is the depth of God's providence… Whenever, therefore, our faith may be shaken by the confusion and disorder of human affairs… let us remember that the judgments of God in the government of the world are with the highest propriety compared to a great depth which fills heaven and earth, that the consideration of its infinite greatness may ravish our minds with admiration, swallow up all our cares, and dispel all our sorrows.”

On this side of redemption’s story, Jesus Christ is the character of God made flesh (Col. 1:15). In him, steadfast love and justice meet. He rescued and redeemed us from the greatest evil of all: sin and eternal death. He shelters us in the refuge of his righteousness. He showers upon us grace upon grace. He is the source and wellspring of all our spiritual blessings. He is the water of life, the light of the world.

It is Jesus who conquered evil at the cross. He reigns as King over all. He keeps and preserves us in his care.

Sometimes, when all seems dark, we need to be reminded of who God is. We need his light to cut into the darkness. We need that contrast to “swallow up all our cares, and dispel all our sorrows” as Calvin wrote. Dear friends, let us remember God’s steadfast love in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for Greater Love

Whenever I thumb through my old prayer journals, I notice a common theme. One prayer I pray the most. One thing I confess above others and one thing I ask for more than anything else . It’s not surprising really, since this prayer is related to God’s greatest command and what he created me to do.

What is that prayer?

For love.

I often find myself confessing to a lack of love, both for God and others. Sometimes I confess sins of idolatry—loving created things more than the Creator. Other times I confess not loving my family and others as I ought, being selfish with my time and energy, seeking my own wants and needs, complaining about my labors on behalf of others.

I also find myself asking the Lord to help me to love as he has loved me. To bear in me the fruit of love, through his Spirit. To love sacrificially, faithfully, and with humility. To love without expectation or condition. To love because he first loved me.

Perhaps you are familiar with such prayers. Here is one I wrote, asking the Lord for greater love.

A Prayer for Greater Love

Father in Heaven,

I come before you today humbled by your love for me. I read in my Bible from John 17:23 where it says that you love me as much as you love your Son. I paused to consider what that means. My finite mind faltered to grasp it. I just sat there overwhelmed and wonder-struck. You love me as much as you love your own Son? How can that be?

I thank you and praise you for your love for me in Christ. I thank you that before you spoke those words, “Let there be light,” you chose to love me. You set your heart on me. You decided to make me your own. I praise you because you are a God of love; John says you are love (1 John 4:16). Indeed, you’ve known love from all eternity; it’s what you’ve always shared within the Triune community. A love wherein each person of the God-head love, delight in, honor, treasure, and glorify the other. And you chose to share that love with your children whom you have created to love and worship you.

When I consider the love you have for me— when I look at the love poured out on me in Christ at the cross— all I can do is fall before you. Speechless. Humbled. Amazed.

Forgive me for not loving you with my whole heart. Forgive me for not loving my neighbor as myself. Forgive me for not forgiving others as I’ve been forgiven. Forgive me for being impatient and unkind. Forgive me for exalting myself and seeking my own glory and fame. Forgive me for not serving and giving and sacrificing for others.

Forgive me for the idols of my heart, for those things I look to in the hopes that they will give me what only you can give. Forgive me for treasuring things like comfort and pleasure, affirmation and adoration, success and work, family and fortune. Forgive me for setting them on the throne of my heart to worship.

I pray the roots of love would burrow deep in my heart and bring forth life. Help me to love with greater love. Help me to reflect and image you as I love others. Help me to radiate the love that lives within me through your Spirit to those around me. Help me to remove the idols of my heart and replace them with greater love for you. Help me to live out the love you’ve shown me in Christ in my thoughts, words, and deeds.

Your word says that love never fails. I thank you that even though my love for you falters and even though I flounder in my love for others, your love for me in Christ will never fail. It will endure to the end. Nothing can separate me from you.

Reshape my heart this day to love you and others. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

This is Love

Has the gospel changed you? That’s a question the Apostle John wants his readers to ask themselves. Throughout 1 John, the apostle testifies to various truths of the gospel and the subsequent changes it has on our lives. The gospel is more than just something we believe in when we come to faith in Christ. It’s more than a truth we assent to. The gospel of Jesus’ saving grace for us in his life, death, and resurrection, does something to us; it changes us. Because we are united to Christ by faith and have the Holy Spirit living within us, we are no longer the same. We are transformed. And one of the ways the gospel transforms us is in our love for one another.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

To read the rest of this post, visit Servant's of Grace.

God's Faithfulness in Every Season

I haven't experienced spring in twenty years.

Oh, I've traveled during the months of spring to places where flowers and trees are waking from their slumber. I've seen the daffodils and tulips pop out from the ground, bringing a sudden splash of color to a gray landscape.

But I haven't watched the spring transformation take place in two decades. I haven't witnessed the world change from death to life over a period of weeks. 

Now that we've moved away from a tropical climate, I get to experience spring again. We have a large window in our kitchen with a table in front of it. I like to sit there and watch the world outside in our backyard. Since we moved here last spring, I've watched everything come full circle. I watched the green trees in my yard transform into shades of crimson, gold, and rust. I saw the grass turn brown and die. I witnessed the leaves blow off in the wind and flutter to the ground. And before long, I saw hail, ice, and snow batter the same window.

Then, in late January, because it was unseasonably warm, I saw pink buds form on a neighbor's tree. Slowly more trees began to bloom with flowers. Then the daffodils and other flowers came to life. My neighbor's camellia bush burst in color. But the oaks, maples, and other trees still did not have leaves. I looked out the window each morning, wondering when they would appear.

Remarkably, it was the first day of spring. I looked out my kitchen window again and noticed little green specks on the ends of each tree branch. The beginnings of leaves!

Watching the seasons come and go each year for some may be tiresome. And I probably took it for granted growing up in a four season climate. But seeing it again after twenty years was wonderful. I marveled at the process. And not just at the beauty of nature. Not just at the stark contrast between the dark emptiness of winter and the colorful life of spring.

But at the faithful hand of God.

Day in and day out, the sun rises. Every single morning. The earth turns on its axis, rotating exactly as it should. Time moves forward at the same rate each second, minute, and hour. The season for planting comes as does the harvest at its appointed time. The animals make their nests, birth their young, gather for winter, and wait for spring to come again. 

Psalm 119 says, "Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants." (vv. 89-91).

God is faithful and true. He does all that He says He will do. He makes everything happen as He has ordained it to. By His very word, He keeps and sustains all things. He is a covenant keeping God who fulfills all that He has decreed. 

Just as the seasons unfold throughout the year, just as the sun rises each morning, just as the cherry tree blossoms in spring, we can trust in God's faithfulness. He is as sure as the sunrise each morning, the gravity that holds us to the ground, and the air we breathe. God's faithfulness in the created world around us is a constant reminder of His faithfulness toward His people. 

His faithfulness is often joined together in Scripture with His love. "The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6). The ultimate display of His love and faithfulness is found in Christ, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). 

This is a good reminder for me as life is often filled with uncertainty. I have things in my life which I fear will never change or come to an end. There are other things which keep me up at night, wondering what will happen and when. The seeming unpredictability of life can keep me on edge, feeling anxious, fretful, and fearful.

But for God's faithfulness.

The beauty and wonder of spring, as amazing as new life and growth is, serves to point me to the One who holds the world in His hands. As He cares for His creation, how much more so does He care for me? As our Savior said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6: 25-26).

God is faithful in the life of a sparrow and in the life of His people. As we trace His faithfulness back through the seasons, year in and year out, we will see the constant pattern of His love and faithfulness on display, not only in creation, but in our very lives as well. Eventually, we'll trace it back to the cross itself where Christ fulfilled every promise and met every requirement and answered every heart's longing and cry. God was faithful to us in Christ and is faithful to us in this very moment and into eternity.

Do you see God's love and faithfulness in your life?