All Are Wanted, All Are Loved

I've often read God's conversation with Jeremiah:

"Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.'

Then said I:

'Ah, Lord GOD!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.'

 But the LORD said to me:
'Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,' says the LORD.

Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:
'Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant.”   

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Jeremiah was young at the time and God let him know he was wanted, even before he was formed. He was loved before he even existed.

God knew him. God had a plan.

And oh what a plan! A plan of redemption, a plan of forgiveness, a plan of grace.

I recently finished reading the book of Jeremiah and it was so beautiful the way God kept calling His children back, kept giving them another chance. (And they had done some horrific things, things like sacrificing their own children to other gods (Jer. 7:30-31), and though they had to suffer the consequences (Jer. 32:29-30), God continued to pursue them, call them back and keep His promises. (Jer. 4:1, Jer. 31:15-18, Jer. 24:5-7) Oh how I can relate! He calls me back time and again.

His love is unfailing and His promises are always kept. I am so grateful and love Him even more for this. : )

Have you ever deeply thought about how God wanted you? How He calls you and how much He loves you? I think about this sometimes and it is so overwhelming I can't even fathom it, but I know it is true.

I trust Him. He is good.

Each of these beautiful children, from Compassion International's programs, are also wanted by God. He knew them before He formed them and He has a plan for each of them.

All are loved by God.

Just look at their faces.

I see outgoing smiling kids, I see quiet thoughtful kids, I see goofy fun kids.

I see children made in God's image. All wanted, all loved by God.

 
I recently read a biography of a women named Hannah More, she was a poet, a reformer and an abolitionist in the late 1700's and early 1800's.

The biographer says of her:

"More had a conservative approach to reform (of the poor*) centered on expanding responsibility, not rights, and promoting duty, not democracy."

More said:

"Reformation must begin with the GREAT, or it will never be effectual."

This really moved me.

As Christians we are to give up our rights and live to obey the Lord, and in that obedience we do what is our responsibility, not our right.

One of our responsibilities is to help the poor. Feed them, cloth them, teach them and share the Gospel with them.

Will you give?

Would you consider sponsoring a child in need?

Here's an opportunity for you.

Check out Compassion's website here: Compassion International



*NOTE: Emphasize (*) mine.