Jesus Longs for and Desires His People
Share
Israel and Jesus have a special love story. Jesus rescued them from slavery, from the land of Egypt. He revealed Himself to them, and taught them — through the commandments, the Tabernacle, and Moses’ mediation — how to form a relationship with Him. Even though they failed God many times, we see the forgiveness of God in His great mercy. Relationship was restored over and over.
Jesus upends our lives and moves us in new directions that are accented by the notes of His kindness and care. So, in the ways that God leads us out in new directions as believers, we see His unending care and desire for us.
He brings us near. When we trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, believing Him as the Lord of our lives, we gain a new relationship. We have communion with the God of all through the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, He tenderly, graciously lifts us close. The Godhead so honors the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that much patience is given to those who choose Christ.
I think of falling back into old ways, yet Jesus meets us to restore us. And He does so not only to put us on the right path — that is true. But He also does so to restore us to depth of relationship with Himself. He sets us near Him and reminds us of whom we have believed. He lifts us from the wreckage that self-government of our lives leaves. He lifts us to the path of close fellowship with Him.
Jesus shows His desire and longing for His people in His willingness to bend down to us. We need nourishment if we are to continue to grow in the grace and mercy of the Lord. We need to be fed through the Word, through church services, through fellowship with other believers, and through prayer. Jesus does meet us especially in these ways. He loves to minister to our spirits and appoints ways for us to be fed. He does this Himself as we are led on the path of righteousness. When we are fed by the Lord, we do well to remember that He bends to us to do it. That is, He feeds us appropriately for exactly where we are at in our faith. He stoops down to us as a father to a child and gives us what we need.
Our love stories with Jesus are those filled with His longing for us. We have been led out of the wilderness of lives in the world characterized by sin. We have been set on new ground, on a new footing, with the Lord Jesus as our help. He has demonstrated His profound love for us on the cross, sacrificing His life so that we might live. And, as we believe in Him, He shows us what it means that He tends to His own with tender care.
Remember — often — the love story of Jesus Christ with you. Remember that He sacrificed and bled for you. Remember that He established you on the firm foundation of His Word. Remember that He walks with you through the wilderness and reestablishes your relationship with Him through times of failure. We are loved, so longed for, by this Jesus. He forms us, heals us, leads us, lifts us, and feeds us. Jesus wants you, He desires you — and He shows it to you over and over and over.
More from this author
12 Encouraging Truths for When You’re Low
The Place of Change and Shadow in Our Theology
4 Things to Remember When We Are Spiritually Weak
Photo credit: ©Thinkstock/chaunpis
Lianna Davis is author of Keeping the Faith: A Study in Jude and Made for a Different Land: Eternal Hope for Baby Loss. She is also a contributor to We Evangelicals and Our Mission with Cascade Books. Lianna is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and a student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She lives in Illinois with her husband and daughter. You can learn more about her writing at her website.