Amazing Love!

This morning I started back up on the bible study a friend and I are doing together. We are doing Beth Moore's "Breaking Free". We are starting Week 5. Its been so good!!! I just wanted to share with you a few things from today's study.

Week 5 is talking about binding up the brokenhearted and today was titled "Straight to the Heart". The part that spoke to me and once again reminded me of how great the love of my Savior is this:

It starts with reading Psalm 127:3-4 Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of a warrior.

Then in John 3:16, Jesus is called God's what? One and Only Son.

Now here is the section that went right to my heart!

"John 3:17 tells us God gave His Son for the salvation of people by sending Him into the world. You see, God only had one arrow in His quiver. The most perfect arrow ever to exist. This arrow was a masterpiece, priceless to Him. Cherished far above all the hosts of heaven. Nothing could compare. His only heritage. His only Son. But as God looked on a lost world-desperate, needy, and in the clutches of the enemy-His heart was overwhelmed. Though we sinned miserably against Him and few sought Him, God could not love us less.

Love reached sacrificially into the quiver and pulled out the solitary arrow. The quiver would now be empty, His cherished arrow in the hands of hateful men. Yes, God so loved the world, but God also loved His only begotten Son with inexpressible, divine affection. The divine dilemma: two loves. And one would demand sacrifice of the other. Only one weapon could defeat the enemy of the soul-God's arrow. He positioned the weapon, pulled back the bow, steadied His grip, aimed straight for the heart, 'And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manager'(Luke 2:7)."

Tears of joy stream down my face as I read this over and over again. The thankfulness in my heart no words can express. The God of the universe so passionately loves me inspite of my sins, my failures, my lack of trusting Him and my disobedience. Daily I need this reminder. His love for me is real! This is truly amazing love! Jesus, to give up all He had and be put through the heartbreak, the agony, the lonliness, the betrayal, the mocking, etc. to give me life when I so do not deserve it is unfathomable. Oh, how thankful I am that He did. I pray that I will never look upon the sacrifice He made for me lightly. I pray I will not take it for granted. I pray that anyone who has not been hit by God's arrow, Jesus, that you will drop the shield from your heart and allow the everlasting arrow of love to penetrate your heart and change you forever. Because nothing can bind up a broken heart except the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.