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God knows us and loves us anyway. (Pg.#1)

• At the age of 19, I made a life-over-death decision to yield my future and all my ambitions to the Lord. That only happened because I was confronted with my failures as I followed my own ambitions in those first 19 years of life.

— I believe in some measure this is how we all come to find God’s saving grace.

— In that precious moment, we are confronted with the reality that we also are a sinful being, far from perfect, and not deserving by our own merit to come into the presence of a Holy God.

— This HUMBLING is not a bad thing!

On the contrary, it is probably one of the most graciously honest moments in our lives.

In this study, we’ll look at how God’s overpowering love is for even failures such as us.

(Mark all the answers you think are correct)

To start let’s read Psalm 103:8-14 (ESV) The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  (9)  He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.  (10)  He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.  (11)  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;  (12)  as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  (13)  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.  (14)  For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

— Q1. Does this tell us that God is aware of our failures (sins)?  O – Yes     O – No

— Q2. Do we see here that sin angers God?  O – Yes     O – No

— Q3. From His position of complete Holiness, how does God deal with our sins?

O – He immediately punishes us for our sins.     O – He controls His anger at damaging sin in our lives.

O – He holds back His anger because of His steadfast love, instead, He shows us His mercy.

— Q4. How does God see us in our humanity?

O – He’s disappointed for He’s hoping for perfection.     O – No sweat, He thinks we’re good enough.

O – From the beginning He knew we could choose to sin.

O – His disappointment is overcome by His love for us.

(Other comments) ____________________________________________________________________

— Q5. Is there any statement from this wonderful scripture that especially touches you?

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Now let’s read Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  (29)  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  (30)  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;  (31)  but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

— Q6. As in Psalm 103, does this also tell us that God is aware of our humanity?  O – Yes     O – No

— Q7. Mark the phrases you see that exhibit God’s understanding of our humanity.

O – “He (God) gives power to the faint,”     O – “to him who has no might he increases strength.”

O – “Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;”

God knows us and loves us anyway. (Pg.#2)

Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  (29)  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  (30)  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;  (31)  but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

— Q8. Mark the phrases that show God’s intervention for those who are faithful to Him.

O – “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;”

O – “they shall mount up with wings like eagles;”

O – “they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

O – _______________________________________________________________________________

— Q9. How do we reacte to God’s understanding, and mercy towards us?

O – I don’t think much of it, because I’m taught that I am special, and I deserve good things.

O – I am drawn to a God who knows me and yet loves me.

O – I love Him so much because He loves me and guides me moment by moment to be more like Him.

O – When I see His love for even me, I am motivated to share that love with others in need.

O – (Other comments) _______________________________________________________________

— Q10. How does this understanding of God’s love for even us, help us to pray?

O – Because I am special, if God doesn’t answer my prayers I won’t serve Him.

O – I am helped to understand that as I pray for others, God wants the best for them also.

O – My prayers are more powerful because I know that God’s will is for everything to work for good.

(Other comments) _____________________________________________________________________

In conclusion: How do we respond to God’s grace in understanding our failures?

— This question confronted Jesus in Luke 5:30-32 (CEV) The Pharisees and some of their teachers of the Law of Moses grumbled to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with those tax collectors and other sinners?”  (31)  Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.  (32)  I didn’t come to invite good people to turn to God. I came to invite sinners.”

• Jesus has compassion for us in our sins, and yet He offers us His path to repent and be saved.

• This means we must accept that His sacrifice on the cross was made to pay the price for our sin.

— Jesus clarifies the need to repent in His answers to questions found in Luke 13:4-5 (CEV) What about those eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse than everyone else in Jerusalem?  (5)  Not at all! But you can be sure that if you don’t turn back to God, every one of you will also die.

• As we close we see that God loves us even with our failures (sins), however, He insists that we not remain in our sin but accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, and turn from (repent) of those sins.

With that we close, as we discuss things further, and then on to a time of prayer to our merciful Creator.

May God minister to and bless each of you. …(KK)