Devo Week 30

God's Love for the Nations -- We or Me?

Love compelled the Father to send His Son. And love compelled God's Son to send the Holy Spirit to be with us at all times and in all places. God desires disciples among all nations and has invited us to join Him on His mission to spread His love to the ends of the earth, to both individuals and groups.

Key Concept: God's Love Pursues Individuals and Groups

Life comes to us more as a story than a math problem. There is comfort in knowing a heart is at the center of the universe.* God’s love is relational. His love pursues relationship with both individuals and nations. He pursued Moses as an individual in order to prepare the Jewish nation for the Exodus. It is by His love we build healthy relationships with the blessing of the Gospel to both individuals and the group. Perhaps this was the motivation behind the Apostle Paul's statement, " I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (I Cor. 9:23)

God's love is full of passion. He offers His love to everyone. Unstoppable in its pursuit of relationship, God’s love perseveres through suffering in order to be received. Not all will be receptive, but He promises that representatives from every people group will have a place in the parade of nations. (Rev. 21:22-26) There is no greater love than this. (John 15:13) It is by His love we will have endurance to continue spreading the Gospel until the glory of God is expressed among all nations.

God's love offers hope. He restores honor and dignity to individuals and people groups, building the identity of both. His love will transform individuals and nations into the full expression of His glory. While individual names will be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, the 'glory and honor of the nations' will be carried into the New Jerusalem. (Rev. 21:26-27) What a privilege we have to join God in His mission of spreading His love so that the glory of God will fill the earth as the waters cover the seas! (Hab. 2:14)

Key Word Definition: advocacy (noun)

-- the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal

Excerpt from Devotional 30 with highlighted word:

“Ya Nym’s impact continues, now as a university graduate and a role model for her village, where she provides advocacy and literacy services for the children."

Scripture: Psalm 2:8

"Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession."

*Eldredge, J. (2004). Epic: The Story God is Telling and the Role that is Yours to Play. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.