“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jer. 31:3 NKJ).
Have you ever seen the letter TLC written on a bedside hospital chart? This symbol is used to tell all personnel that this patient needs a lot of “tender loving care.”
This verse in Jeremiah lets us know that TLC originated with the Lord: “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” He says. This is an eternal love. It never oscillates, vacillates, or fluctuates. It does not freeze over in winter or dry up in summer. It is constant and perennial.
How often we encounter conditional love. Our society is structured on it. We soon get the message: “If you want to be accepted, measure up.” Conditional love sets achievement levels and goals that are usually beyond reach. It forces us to compete for acceptance, approval or affection. Such competition produces alienation. One person wins the prize, the rest are losers who must learn to cope with rejection.
God has an unconditional love for us. He does not love us because we are somebody; He loves us so we will become somebody. He loves each of us as though there were no one else to love but us. He will never love us a bit more in the future than He loves us right now.
We can grieve the Lord, insult Him, resist Him, and even disobey Him. None of these things removes or lessens His love. Our perverse actions only hinder His blessings, because God can only bless obedience. But we cannot add to God’s love or subtract from it. The good news is that we can cooperate with His love and enjoy it forever.
The message is: God loves you.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.