A Senseless Love

A few years ago, I feel in love. Tragically, that love was not returned.

Our puppy Tipper, might protect me, but she certainly did not obey me. She might stand between me and the lumbering trash truck in the street. She might plant herself between me and the large city worker in our yard. She even accompanied me to answer every door chime.

But she didn’t love me.

The reason she protected me? Her master, my husband, seemed to esteem me. I think she saw me as a high value item to him, so she obediently took care of me.

I did not appreciate all the extra work that accompanied this newest addition to our home. Nor did I love her I’ll-listen-when-it’s-convenient attitude. But as time passed, I grew to love this dog on a mission.

Although I was forever dragging branches back outdoors as she came bounding in, I did appreciate how she watched over our daughters with the utmost attention.

As much as I disliked her attraction to any body of water, and the bath that must follow her frolicking, I secretly loved how she insisted on checking out the garage before I was permitted to step inside.

She was feisty, fierce, and not always all-that-friendly. Yet my love for her grew. That love was what I would call nonsensical.

God’s love for us is like that: nonsensical.

We do precious little to earn or in any way justify it. We often treat Him the way Tipper treated me: acknowledged only because someone we love values Him.

But that doesn’t stop Him from loving us, no matter how much work we make for Him to woo us back into His presence.

God orchestrated the impossible: that those far from Him, those who should be found guilty for their thoughts, words, and actions, should be freed.

Our freedom was bought by Jesus, innocent of all evil yet convicted by a heart for His Father.

God wanted to be reunited with you and me. He authored Jesus to bear the burden of our wrongs so we might come to Him.

While His pursuit of us makes no sense to the world, His loyalty and faithfulness is truly unparalleled. He esteems us because He values us. And His love and faithfulness will never diminish or disappear.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)

No, His love makes no sense. Yet it is indeed present all the time.

The question is: will you accept it?

If you, like me, struggle to fathom much less, accept that kind of love, will you join me in asking for God’s help in claiming the unimaginable?

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving me, even when I’m not lovable. Thank you for pursuing me when I’ve given no indication I would ever desire your affection or return your love. Please help me learn to accept your great gift. In Jesus’ name, Amen.