Eternal destinies

Once again I want to focus these coaching tips this summer on your personal relationship with God.  I would encourage you to go back to the “Suggested Summer Reading List” that I sent out last summer and choose a couple of books to read through while you are on holiday.  

I have been reading through a devotional book this spring called, “Come Away My Beloved” by Frances J. Roberts.  The following excerpt from that book and from the thoughts I wrote out in my journal is a good introduction:

“My heart for you is in nowise contingent upon any attainment.  My glory is involved in the way you live.  Eternal destinies are involved in the matters of your holiness and your faithfulness and your obedience to My direction and will; but My love for you is independent of these factors.”

“Your love for me as I am is secure – it’s ‘done.’  It has happened and it can never be undone – no matter what I do or don’t do.  You love me with a depth of love which cannot be explained and cannot be stopped.  You love me, no question.  Because You love me, You are faithful to Your promise to me.  It’s not what I do for You that makes You love me.  There’s nothing I can do to make You love me more.

“You express Your love in many ways – 2 of them are Your faithfulness and mercy.  I love You and one way I express my love for You is through obedience to Your will.  The author also adds that I can express my love to You through holiness and faithfulness.  Even though my ‘works’ (the things I do) won’t make You love me more, these ‘works’ are still important (maybe we should call them ‘responses’ instead of ‘works’).  Being obedient and faithful to do Your will in holiness is vital to the ‘eternal destinies’ of those who have yet to experience God’s love for them.  You love the lost and You ache that they experience Your love for each of them.  Your heart breaks because the lost die without knowing Your love for them (Ezek. 18:32, 33:11; 2 Pet.3:9).  I want to be about doing the things that will keep Your heart from breaking.  My love for You moves me to do that.

“In the midst of serving You, I must not forget that You already love me with a love that almost bursts Your heart.”

“I love you because you are My child.  I love you because I am your Father.  I love you with Calvary love.  At great price I have redeemed you – this I did because I loved you.  When I planned this I foresaw you lost in sin, and I loved you and chose you and set My heart upon you.

~from Francis J. Roberts