REDEEMING LOVE, AMAZING GRACE
This past week I had a couple of days when I did not feel well. It was partly due to pain on my right side from my shoulder to my foot and partly due to thinking on the wrong things. I was “made” to think about some of the things I had done in the past. Things that cause me to wonder just how far the Grace of God extends. I felt as though maybe I had run out of grace. Then on Friday I watched the movie “Redeeming Love.” I almost skipped over it; for, initially, it looked like it was just another “chick flick;” but I felt an internal urge to click on it. So I watched it. And although it must be considered a secular movie because of the setting, it is based on Scripture in Hosea. Its message is at the least, redeeming. The grace, love and mercy, that the lead male character extended to the female lead character is a great example of God’s redeeming love—His grace. The character that the female lead played is exactly as God sees us when we push him and his love aside and choose to love the world and its pleasures. She plays a harlot!
Then today, Sunday, Tommy—of Mars Hill—in his Summer Series—Gospel Marriage, preached a sermon on our marriage to Christ. His first point was that “Despite God’s Great Love, we have played the harlot” in our relationship with Him. These are some of the Scriptures [I Chronicles 5:25 and Judges 2:17 and Jeremiah 3:20] that he read about God’s children playing the harlot when they reject God. He said, “Before we can look at God’s love for us, we have to first look at how we have loved Him.” While God does not need the things of this world to give us a great analogy of his love and grace, the movie I had seen on Friday helped me to physically see myself as God sees me when I do not do his will. It opened my eyes!
Tommy’s second point was that “Despite our great adultery, God still pursues us.” God has compassion on us and loves us with His everlasting love.
Isaiah 54:5-8— 5 For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. 6 For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. 7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. 8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.
While we were still sinners Christ died for us! It grieves Him when we reject Him; but he does not withdraw His love and mercy—His grace. Again, God’s pursuit of us is immeasurable. The man in “Redeeming Love” pursued the woman; but when she refused to come home, he simply waited for the “prodigal” to return, just as the father in Luke, chapter fifteen, waited for his prodigal son to return. Upon the prodigal’s return, all was forgiven.
First, seeing myself as God sees me in the physical realm when I do not do his will and seeing how much grace and love a mortal man could extend to someone he loves, caused me to reflect on the fact that God’s love and grace far surpasses anything that man could ever offer. Secondly, Tommy’s message, a word from God, brought it all back to the spiritual realm—back to God’s redeeming love and to his amazing grace that covers all of our sins. Although I will never completely understand the magnitude of God’s Grace, I will never again doubt that it covers me! GOD’S REDEEMING LOVE—the redeeming love that was expressed on the cross and GOD’S AMAZING GRACE—his steadfast love and mercy—that he has extended to me along with a measure of Faith is everlasting—How wonderful!
The scripture used in this essay is from the ESV version unless specifically noted!
July 10, 2022
Mallard E. Guy Jr.
The Book, Redeeming Love, that the movies was based on is by Francine Rivers. The book is based on the story in the Bible about Hosea and Gomer in the book of Hosea.