Why do you think we readily accept God’s love for others but struggle with the belief that He loves us equally, radically, completely, and unfailingly?
“Maybe low self-esteem, perhaps because we know first-hand how big our own sin (does that mean we at least have the plank in the eye lesson mastered, or is it actually a form of pride that we can sin bigger than God can handle?)”
We relentlessly insist on trying to humanize God… we keep trying to recreate God in our own image.
Read Psalm 107:1-3, 10-22. Why did some sit in darkness and the deepest gloom as prisoners suffering in iron chains?
“They had rebelled against the words of God”
Who subjected them to bitter labor? “God”
Why do you imagine God would subject His own people to bitter labor for rebelling against his words (v. 13)? “to bring about repentance”
Based on verses 13 and 14, what did God do once His people cried out to Him in their trouble? “rescued them”
What was God’s obvious motivation for doing such wonderful deeds (vv. 15-16)? “He desired their thanks and praise”
How did the Lord heal those who were suffering affliction as a direct result of their foolish rebellion (v. 20)? “with His word which He sent”
What was the obvious prerequisite of God responding with His healing word (v. 19)? “The people needed to cry out to Him.”
How does God obviously feel about those who have foolishly rebelled against Him (v. 21)? “He still loves them unfailingly.”
Why should the rebellious who have been freed be faithful to tell of his works?
“They’ve been through more. They’ve messed up big, suffered serious consequences, repented, and called out to God and seen the rescue He has brought to them.”
Dearest Rachel –
It would seem that the demands of life may have been a bit much for you, as several of this “week’s” chapters are a bit light on answers filled out. Nevertheless, you dutifully completed at least something for each day, since you felt you needed to have something filled out in order to contribute to the discussions at the weekly study sessions. It is ironic, though, to come across one of these partially completed entries on a day that has, as one of its main themes, the idea of resolving to do better for oneself. Of course, this is all past for you at this point, so any such observation regarding New Year’s might be considered so ironic, but this adds a little garnish to it all the same.
At the same time, there is something to be said for the fact that we are more able and willing to affirm God’s love for others than for ourselves. Your observation that it may be a point of absurdly misplaced pride (“I’m so awful of a person that even God can’t love, forgive or use me!”) is curiously insightful; who would admit to that, even as they accept that such a line of thinking is frighteningly plausible?
Meanwhile, I can certainly relate to the last question you addressed here (as, to a lesser extent, could you). Having grown up in the same church for all but a handful of years, I cannot relate to those with, let’s just say, sordid histories. I don’t have a ‘before’ to compare to my ‘after’ picture, when it comes to salvation. And while those I know who have come back from rock bottom insist on letting me know how fortunate I am for that, at the same time it leaves me with less internal proof of my spiritual state; they can tell they have been changed and are grateful for it, whereas my life might be as much out of sheer rote habit than actual spirituality. For all I know, I’ve spent the last fifty years merely ‘faking it’ in hopes that I might ‘make it,’ while those who God has pulled from dire straits know where they’ve come from, and are so much more grateful for it.
I’m sure I’ll touch on this that much more in future letters, but as brief as your answers are here, I’ll try to cut it short as well. Besides, I have work in the booth to deal with, a holiday to celebrate, friends to get in touch with, and a separate letter to write you later on. As Prince Humperdinck would say (wow, two Princess Bride references in one week!)…
Talk to you later, honey. Until then, keep an eye on me, and wish me luck; I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 
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