Frontline Devotion for Sunday, March 26, 2006 by Gary Shaffer

Deuteronomy 7:6-11

"...the Lord chose you because he loves you...So love him and obey his commands, and he will faithfully keep his agreement with you and your descendants for a thousand generations. But if you turn against the Lord, he will quickly destroy you."
Deuteronomy 7: 8; 9-10. 

There is perhaps no more important message that we need to hear than the consistent message of God's love for us. And these verses remind us of God's great acts that come out of that love - not because we deserve it or have earned it, but simply because God loves us. I have heard many very meaningful sermons on the unconditional love of God and the grace that flows from that love. And just like everyone else who has heard that message, I have needed and will need to hear that message many times in my life. However, many of the times that I have needed to hear about the extent of God's love have been because I tend to focus on the "law" and often forget the "gospel." So, I like these verses. Not because I might smugly say, "See, here it is. You better watch it or zap, your toast." No, I am wise enough to know that my salvation is completely dependent on the love and grace of God. I have not earned it. It is not deserved.

I like these verses because they remind me that the way we respond to love is very important - always very important. It is important in marriage, in families, in friendship, in every relationship in life. To be repeatedly ungrateful - to never respond graciously to the acts of love from which we benefit - can poison and destroy any one or all of the relationships listed - marriage, family, friendship - any and/or all. Our response to the acts of love that are extended to us represent the fruit of the planted seed. In some ways it completes or magnifies the initial act of love.

In the last chapter of John's gospel there is the familiar story of Jesus' encounter with Simon Peter. In the story Jesus basically asks him three times, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter affirms his love for Jesus each time and each time Jesus responds, "Then feed my sheep." While this story is rich in theological meanings and interpretations, it is also a simple and very direct presentation of the fact that "love compels action."

The Lenten disciplines that so many people try to maintain are often seen as a way to make a significant sacrifice in order to understand the sacrificial act of love that God has made for us.

Our understanding of the love of God is dependent on the images that are central to Jesus' teachings: the shepherd who leaves ninety nine sheep to search for the missing one; the owner of a vineyard pays the same wage to workers who work an hour as he pays to those who work all day; a banquet is thrown to celebrate the powerful love of God and people are invited in off the street: a forgiving father graciously welcomes home a prodigal son before the son has even had a chance to ask his father's forgiveness. And the truth of the matter is that this unconditional love that God extends to us compels action. The way we respond to the love of God is important, very important.

Prayer: " Dear Lord, thank you for loving and choosing me. Help me Lord to serve those who I meet each day and to love you and obey your commands. Enrich my life with love, kindness, patience and gratitude and strengthen my faith so I may better reflect in my life your gracious love. Amen."

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