The Dusty Love

The comforting truth of what Jesus knows about us

Psalm 103; Hebrews 4:14-16

Trusting a love that knows everything about us and even knows just how we feel. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits  (Psalm 103:2). 

Jesus—full of grace and truth—chose to live among us rather than look down on us (John 1:14-18). Still, many Christians insist on viewing Jesus as the God in heaven who looks down on us disapprovingly, demanding that we measure up so that He can love us.    

     But Jesus is the God of the Bible in the flesh, who has always longed to be with His people—to have intimate relationships with them. He knows we are but dust and that we need His protection. God chose Israel and promised to protect them as His very own, knowing what they would do and they would spurn His protective love (Exodus 34:10). In the same way, He chose you to be His very own, knowing what you would do and that you would resist His rescuing and shielding love. 

     This is why you need mercy, not just to “get to heaven when we die,” but also to receive His mercy here on earth. Maybe the primary reason we do not relax in Jesus’ love and mercy is shame. The antidote to shame is the true grace of God (Colossians 1:6; 1 Peter 5:11-13). The first five stanzas of Psalm 103 offer us big gulps of the true grace of God—emphatic statements of His mercy toward us that we need to remember this: When you need a dose of anti-venom, remember His tender mercies. He knows everything about you and even how you feel. And He loves you anyway, He’s crazy about you!