This past week, our family met our newborn granddaughter. Our son was giddy in his love for this little girl. It was precious to behold. It reminds me of God’s love for each of His children. There is a verse in Zephaniah that says, “…He will exult over you with joy….”
I remember someone telling me that the love we have for our babies is such a great picture of the love that God has for us. A baby can’t “do” anything—except cry, and eat, and sleep, and spit up, and throw up, and have messy diapers—and yet, parents love their babies, feed them, clothe them, and clean up their messes.
God loves each of His children, without conditions, intensely, with joy.
However, as babies grow, a training process begins—to help the child learn right from wrong, and to be fitted for their purpose here on earth –mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Sometimes in that training process, the child can start thinking they are loved only if they “perform” well.
When we begin to grow spiritually, the same thing happens—there is a training process to help us grow and be fitted for our heavenly purpose here on earth. Sometime in that training process, we also can start thinking we are loved only if we “perform” well.
God has given us scripture to correct that thinking. Romans 8: 38-39 says: “I am convinced that neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing can stop or separate God’s love from you and from me.
However, discipline is an expression of love. Hebrews 12 talks about this. It says that because God loves us, He disciplines us. God sees our brokenness and wants to heal us. As it says in Hebrews 12:10—God wants to make us whole—which is the root word for Holy. He disciplines us to make us Holy as He is Holy.
What does this mean to be Holy? It means that we live in the freedom that Jesus gave us when He died on the cross for us. God demonstrated His great love for us by sending Jesus to die for us to free us from the bondage of sin. We live in that freedom, by “abiding or resting” in Our Lord. “As My Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9
Most babies are wonderful at resting and sleeping, especially if they are resting on one of their parents. They feel safe and secure—they can hear the heart beating of their parent. This is what Jesus wants for us—that we are so close to Him, that we are resting in Him, safe in His presence, living, and loving through the power He gives us.
Our Heavenly Father loves us with an everlasting love!! He is giddy over us in His love!! He longs for us to know this and trust Him–to “rest or abide” in Him! If you would like this as well–just tell Him this.
Let us be encouraged!!
Encouragement for you!! 