He suffered for your failure to obey him, and God treats you as his son or daughter – as though Jesus’ obedience were your own. Drawing nearer to the Lord through the grace of Christ will melt your heart and conform it to his heart. 

God’s example shows us the way of satisfaction. His empowerment fuels our search for satisfaction. But most importantly, his Son motivates our satisfaction and makes it possible, because he shows us that the Lord’s satisfaction is more important than our own.

Jesus satisfied God’s justice so we could be satisfied by his mercy. Jesus filled himself with our sin so we could be filled with his righteousness. Jesus is ready; we have only to ask for more of him, and we’ll be the most satisfied people on the planet: “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). Wisdom pushes us toward the Lord to rub shoulders with his Son, who is our life.

If you are the unhappy romantic, you might look to Jesus’ example to show you how to love. You might even ask for his Spirit to help you love rightly. In the end, however, your only hope is to rest in the fact that Jesus already loves and respects you.

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