One of our deepest longings is to be completely loved for who we are. This is what young children who are in a secure, loving relationship with their parents’ experience. It’s what we are supposed to experience with God, but we often don’t because the enemy has successfully alienated us from Him. We’ve fallen prey to a false belief about who God is. It’s one of the saddest things that can happen to a human. It’s much like the children we see in our Fostering By Faith Boutique—especially the teens. They’ve lived in perpetual “parental disappointment” for so long that they have very little hope that they will ever be completely loved.
Often, the longer the child has been abused or neglected, the more love and time it takes for the child to recapture a life of wonder and hope.
It’s the same for our relationship with God. When we are born again, we are so damaged by the enemies that we are not even open to being loved by God. Our wrong image of God and of real love makes it difficult for us to give Him a fair shot at being the Father He wants to be to us. We must get to know God for Who He is—not who our enemies say He is. When we enter into the experience of God’s love, He reveals the remarkable person that He made us to be! We abandon our unhealthy hopes and learn to have healthy emotions. We discover we are completely loved for who God made us—not our accomplishments, our outward appearance, or how much money we have. Knowing that we are completely loved by God frees us to reach our potential because we are UNAFRAID to have Him help us change our flaws and weaknesses. We don’t fear His rejection because of our failings.
When the love of Jesus liberates us from the ghosts of our past; we live freely in the present—with great hope for the future.
God’s love for us is more than we can ever comprehend. Right before Jesus sacrificed His life for us, His soul was laid bare in this prayer to the Father when He prayed, “the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26)
Such unspeakably, amazing love!
Jesus knew that it would cost Him His life—yet—He prayed for His DEATH in order that we might have LIFE.
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
John 17:1-3 NKJV
Jesus knows about everything terrible we’ve done, but He thought that our life was worth the great sacrifice of His own. Words are truly inadequate to describe this great love. When our soul and spirit are born again and become God’s children, we obtain the full acceptance of God and a great miracle transpires. We are enabled to love others without regret or fear.
IN a deep relationship with Christ, we know who we are, and—He enables us to love others like He loves us!
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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4 Responses
what would we do without the Lord God’s love at times I feel sad when I don’t feel love I’m a very sensitive person but soon as I look up the love come down we serve an awesome awesome God amen amen amen!
Yes we do—the steadfast love of the Lord is our best love!
What a touching, beautiful illustration of THE remedy to the pain so many endure.
So thankful Jesus teaches us in ways we can understand!