RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL;
28TH JUNE, 2018 ; PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME;
UNDERSTANDING THE FATHER’S LOVE;
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
1 John 3:1 says, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” The word, “bestowed” also means “lavished”; the Father has lavished His love on you. It’s love without limits. Think about it: we who shouldn’t have been known of God, who shouldn’t have ever come close to God are now, as a result of the superabundant love He’s lavished upon us, accepted of Him. We’re now called the sons of God. What an amazing reality!
What is love? It’s that endearing value of a person that gives you a sense of his or her importance to you as the object of your favour. Therefore, that God loves you means you’re special and valuable to Him. This understanding will change your life and give you an extraordinary mentality.
Consider a man like David, who had a unique perception of the love of God; his understanding of the Father’s love made him think differently. In Psalm 23:1 for example, he said, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This alone lets you know what David thought about God, for which reason he was such a success, and his life, so victorious! He knew he was valuable to God, and the object of His favour.
Always take out time to meditate on the love of God. Think about His grace, kindness and the fact that if you were the only one on earth, the Lord Jesus would still have given His life for you. That’s how valuable you are to God. Dare to believe this and let it sink deep into your consciousness; it’ll change your life forever and give you a new confidence.
God loves you just the way you are. You didn’t have to “work” or impress Him to earn His love, for you could never earn it by your own works, but by grace. He chose to love you. All you have to do is accept His love as simply as it has come to you, and be conscious of His love for you always. Even now, lift your hands to Him and say, “Thank you Lord, for loving me with an everlasting love. Amen.”
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for your love, and your grace upon my life. Thank you for making me the object of your grace, glory, and righteousness; my life is the expression of your praise, now and forever, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 4:16; Jeremiah 31:3
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Acts 13:13-52 & Nehemiah 9-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
2 Corinthians 10:1-7 & Isaiah 17