“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)
Have you ever thought about God’s love for you? I mean, REALLY thought about it.
Many people know that God loves them on some level, but have never given it any in-depth thought. I guess you could say that I was one of those people in a way. I was brought to church as a little girl and grew up having a “God Consciousness,” but not really knowing Him. I knew He existed, and in some way I knew He loved me, but in those days, it wasn’t a personal knowledge that really changed my life.
One of the Scriptures that I was taught when I was a child was John 3:16.
The New Testament manuscripts were originally written in Greek, and in that language, the word “so” means “in this manner.” This verse speaks of the manner in which God loved the world (ALL of humanity), and continues to do so today.
God loves us in such a manner that is sacrificial. Jesus Christ, was of greatest value to Him – His own Son. BUT, because of His great love for us, He was willing to give Jesus as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. Almighty God gave the absolutely greatest expression of His love for us through sacrificing His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Because of that sacrifice and Jesus’ willingness to sacrifice His own life, we can be forgiven for our sins, healed and made whole, and have eternal life.
I talk about how revelation of God’s love has changed my life, but sometimes people ask me about what that really means to my everyday life. So, I thought I should answer that question.
The Bible says in 1 John 4:18 that, “perfect loves drives out fear.” I have battled with fear for most, if not all, of my life. That began to change when I discovered that Almighty God is my heavenly Father. For me, that change began as I faced the inevitability of Brain Surgery in 2005. That also marked the beginning of my new sense of identity.
Galatians 4:4-7 says, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for me on Calvary’s Cross, I can be redeemed, restored and adopted as child of God. All I have to do is receive the free gift that Jesus offers to me, by receiving Him into my life.
When I really “got” that I am God’s child – His daughter, and that He loves me with a love that is completely flawless, it changed how I see everything.
I now realize that I can completely trust Him to protect me, provide for me and restore me. That means that I don’t have to be afraid, because my heavenly Father knows what is best for me and nothing is impossible for Him. He’s got my back.
That doesn’t mean that I never experience any hardships, but if I am following His lead, those hardships will be for a purpose. He is sovereign and He will not allow anything to happen to me that is not for my ultimate good, as long as I am faithful to following where He leads. If I willingly stray from His chosen path, I may be walking outside of His protection.
The truth is, I do still deal with fear at times. The difference now is that I don’t stay there and become consumed by it. God already knows what will happen and He has my future in His hands.
We can be inclined to see God’s instructions as harsh, and without purpose, but that is not how it really is. Every one of God’s commandments to His people are motivated by His love for us. He knows we will be harmed in some way if we do otherwise. God loves us enough that He wants to spare us from any and all harm. All of God’s commands are intended for our well-being.
My prayer is, “Father, Please help me to remember every day that Your love never fails. Thank You for accepting me as Your child. Even when I cannot see You, You are there. You are always faithful. Please show me how to receive Your love and in turn, show that love to others. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
