"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends..."

Exodus 36:6-7, “Then the Eternal One passed before him. The Eternal God, full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and abundant in loyal love and truth, who maintains loyal love to thousands of people, who forgives wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin.”

In seeing God's loyal love, mercy and long suffering, Moses quickly bowed down on the ground and worshiped. It gave him the confidence to ask, “If I have gained Your trust and blessing, Lord, please go with us, despite the incredible stubbornness of this people. I also ask that You forgive our wrongdoing and our sins and receive us as Your very own people, Your inheritance.”

My middle child for awhile would sometimes sing, “Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me” then look at me and tell me, “That's just crazy.”

Moses got a glimpse of this crazy love of a God that extends beyond any man-made borders. In seeing it, he knew he could ask God to stick with the Israelites despite their golden-calf worship, orgies and continued complaining. God would not give up on them or fail them even in their wrongdoing and stubbornness.

Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend write about these verses in Exodus, “God is not someone who gives up on relationship easily. He goes the extra mile with sinful and imperfect people. And we are to model long-suffering in the same way. God strives with humankind. He tries his best to work it out. He does not want anyone to perish; he wants everyone to come to him and love him (see Peter 3:9). And that is not a passive stance. He suffers actively and doesn't withdraw. He is “in there” trying to fix the relationship, ready to forgive when people own their part in the problem.”[1]

To love relentlessly means an unyielding and unbending pursuit no matter the circumstances. Only God has the capacity to love like this and to give us this kind of love for others. In God's eyes, each person has infinite worth and He does not give up on them no matter their circumstances.

Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend write, “How long is too long to stick with a relationship? Usually it is longer than we think. It is past the point of pain, past the point of revenge, past the point of despair -and we continue on as God gives us the supernatural ability to love and keep seeking an answer. This is what he did for us and this is what he calls us to do.” [2]

Jesus pursued the man who had a legion of demons in him in order to bring him healing and set him free. He went across the sea into the country of the Gadarenes to meet him. This was a man who people had given up on and didn't even bother to try to bind up in chains anymore. He was a throw away in the world's eyes and he lived alone among the tombs- crying out and cutting himself in pain.

Jesus continually moved towards the poor and excluded. He loved on them, connected with them, and brought them healing and freedom. In His presence they were no longer unwanted, no longer rejected, no longer unclean. They had hope of a new life available to them.

Hosea is another story of the relentless love in pursuit of a sinful people.   Even though Gomer, a prostitute, kept running back to old lovers and violating their covenant of marriage, Hosea [a picture of Jesus], never gave up.    It is a picture of the unfailing love Jesus has for His unfaithful bride.

I had a dream last night that there were some people around me that were really hard cases... even demonically possessed.  They were ones that everyone (including me) were giving up on.  I said in my heart, “these are lost causes” and walked away.   But even after I gave up on them, God was not done.  They hung around and were healed.  I came back and they were different people.  They were healed, cleaned up and totally grateful for their lives. I was amazed at their transformation.

Sometimes I fail to see with eyes of hope and faith. I fail to see the whole picture through God's eyes. I write people or relationships off as hopeless when I really need to see is the work that God is doing.

Lord, fill us with your relentless love for those unwanted and excluded around us. Let us have more of your long-suffering loyal love. I pray the prayer of Richard of Chichester: “to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day.” [3]

1-2. Taken from 'Life Journey Bible', Insight by: Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend.

3. Taken from “Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John”, by Jean Vanier.