Love Pursues the Lost and Lonely

“You matter to God; because you matter, His love pursues you, especially when you feel lost and alone.”

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today –May 17, 2023

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”  Genesis 3:7-10

Adam and Eve, the first two people created by God, quickly learned that sin and shame feed fear, while perfect Love casts out all fear…casting out with the divine force of a demon being dethroned and sent away in shame away from a human’s inner being. God asks for Adam’s sake since He knew the answer, as He is the Lord. Charles Spurgeon describes the reality of where Adam and Eve find themselves, lost and alone, “Adam, where art thou?”—look at yourself now, naked, a stranger to your God, dreading the presence of your Maker, miserable, undone. “Adam, where art thou?”—with a hard heart, with a rebellious will, fallen, fallen, fallen from your high estate. “Adam, where art thou?” Lost! lost to your God, lost to happiness, lost to peace, lost in time, lost in eternity. Only the longsuffering love of the Lord could bring them back to God.

Like Adam and Eve, Love pursues you and me relentlessly and, at times, in bold, creative ways to bring us into an intimate love relationship with the Trinity. From the very beginning of God’s creation of human beings, sin and shame have driven people away from God, seeking to hide and not be found. Yet, Love does not give up but seeks to forgive sin and heal shame, so that love can literally be shed abroad in a heart and through life. Shame seeks to hide, but love finds us. 

We all have moments, and sometimes seasons, when we feel utterly lost, alone with shame knocking at the door of our hearts. But in these moments, we need to be still, quiet our souls and listen for another knock of Love. As Jesus says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20, NLT) A knock of shame may drown out Christ’s gentle but persistent knock of Love. The loudest noise is many times the enemy’s distraction, so tune out the trivial and tune in Love. Love is a gentleman waiting for you to make room with trusting hospitality. Shame scurries out the back door when Love enters the front door, standing aglow in the faith foyer of your life. You matter to God; because you matter, His love pursues you, especially when you feel lost and alone. His love is accompanied by the divine community of the Son and the Spirit.

Here is a helpful contrast between Fear and Love:

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelation 3:20, NLT).

Prayer

Dear Lord, I feel confused and lost. I feel alone, unable to find my way. But I know your Love knows the way. Lead me by your Love. Lead me to the light of community with Father, Son, Spirit, and a community with your followers. I confess my sin and shame. With your Love, replace my sin with your forgiveness, my shame with your acceptance, and my fear with your peace. Through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.

Application

Are you hiding behind the lie that you don’t matter? If so, invite the Lord’s love into your life to heal your shame.

Related Reading

Genesis 2:25; Isaiah 61:7; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 4:14

Worship Resource

Hillsong Acoustic: Highs & Lows/Eagles Wings

Donate

If you are blessed by these daily devotionals please prayerfully consider a donation to support Wisdom Hunters Resources. We are trusting the Lord for His provision.

Learn how to help.

Download our app!