God’s Eternally Beloved 神永恒挚爱的

[Dexu Xia]

I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

Today's Scripture Jeremiah 31:1-10

God disciplined His chosen people because of their unfaithfulness. Jerusalem was destroyed and the Israelites exiled to Babylon (Jeremiah 1:14-16; 5:15-19; 6:22-23; 25:9-11). But once the discipline was complete, God brought them back from exile (30:8-17), restored their privileges as His chosen nation (vv. 18-24), and, most important, restored the people to Himself (ch. 31). He did this because of His special love and unmerited mercy. God is “Israel’s father and [Israel] is [his] firstborn son” (v. 9). He assured them, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (v. 3). God’s discipline isn’t inconsistent with His love, for “the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:12). We can be assured that God loves us and pursues us with His everlasting love.

Today's Devotional

One of the most dramatic and mysterious love letters of all time was penned by composer Ludwig van Beethoven and was only discovered after his death in 1827. The hastily handwritten letter is full of passionate lines like, “My eternally beloved . . . I can only live either wholly with you or not at all.” Tragically, it appears the letter was never sent, and his intended recipient remains unknown. 

Beethoven’s letter is treasured by readers who can identify with his desperate yearning for love. We seek love and fulfillment in many people, things, and experiences that cannot fully satisfy. But far greater than a fleeting romance is the love of God for His covenant people, to whom He showed great love for the sake of all people. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God declared, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). Because of His great love, God promised a future of rest and favor (v. 2) and the restoration of anything that was broken (v. 4). Despite their repeated rejection and rebellion, God vowed to bring them back to Himself (v. 9).

Many years later, that same everlasting love motivated Jesus to endure death for sinners, even before we ever returned His love (Romans 5:8). We don’t have to search for love or try to earn it. We’re already loved with an everlasting love!

Reflect & Pray

In what ways do you look for love on earth? How has God demonstrated His eternal love to you?  Loving God, I’m so grateful for the way You pursue me with an everlasting love. 

By Karen Pimpo

我以永远的爱爱你。（耶利米书 31:3）

 今日经文：耶利米书 31:1-10

今日洞见：以色列人因为对上帝不忠而受到管教，耶路撒冷被毁，以色列人被掳到巴比伦（耶利米书 1:14-16；5:15-19；6:22-23；25:9-11）。但是管教结束后，上帝又将以色列人从被掳之地带回到故土（30:8-17），恢复了他们作为祂选民的特权（18-24节），最重要的是，祂使以色列人与祂和好（31章）。上帝这样做，是出于祂独特的爱和白白赐予的怜悯。上帝是“以色列的父，以色列是祂的长子”（9节）。上帝向他们保证：“我以永远的爱爱你们，我以慈爱吸引你们”（3节）。上帝的管教与他的爱并不矛盾，因为“耶和华所爱的，他必管教，正如父亲管教他所喜爱的儿子”（箴言3:12）。我们可以确信，上帝爱我们，并以他永远的爱追寻我们。

今日灵修： 作曲家路德维希·范·贝多芬曾写过一封情书，这封直到他1827年去世后才被发现的情书，堪称史上最激动人心、最神秘莫测的情书之一。在这封匆匆写就的手写信中充满了激情澎湃的句子，例如：“我永远挚爱的人……我只能与你完全相伴，否则便无法生存。” 可惜的是，这封信似乎从未寄出，而且收信人至今仍是个谜。

 贝多芬的这封信深受读者喜爱，因为他们能感同身受他对爱情的渴望。我们常常在许多人、事、物中寻求爱与满足，但这些都无法完全满足我们。然而，上帝对祂立约子民的爱，远胜于短暂的爱情。为了全人类的缘故，上帝向以色列人展现了祂的大爱。上帝借着先知耶利米宣告：“我以永远的爱爱你，我以慈爱吸引你”（耶利米书 31:3）。因着祂的大爱，上帝应许赐予他们安息和恩典的未来（2节），并修复一切破碎的事物（4节）。尽管他们屡次拒绝和悖逆，上帝仍誓言要将他们带回祂身边（9节）。 多年以后，这同样的永恒之爱激励着耶稣为罪人舍命，甚至在我们回应祂的爱之前就已如此（罗马书 5:8）。我们无需寻觅爱，也无需努力去赢得爱。我们早已被上帝永恒的爱所爱！

  反思与祷告 你在世上以何种方式寻求爱？上帝是如何向你展现祂永恒的爱的？

慈爱的上帝，祢以永恒的爱追寻我，这使我无比感恩。——凯伦·皮姆波