I was privileged to bring last Sunday’s devotion for the volunteers at church. Whenever I get ready to bring a message or a devotion, I also remind myself that “you have to live it to give it.” This message was an easy one to “live,” as it was about my favorite topic – God’s love for us.
It started in Mark 10:14-16 where children were brought by their parents to Jesus for a blessing. They were originally turned away by the disciples until Jesus put an abrupt end to that!
“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” [NLT]
One of the great traits of children is that they have the capacity to joyfully accept love. Watch a little one spot someone they love. They will race toward them and throw themselves into welcoming arms. Watch a little one sleeping in the arms of someone they know loves them. They sure can soak up the love.
As we mature, we lose that capacity to accept love. We listen to the voices of this life (the world, the flesh, the devil) who unceasingly strive to convince us that we are not worthy of the love of our Father God. That capacity to accept love like a little child is often replaced with a need to be accepted.
It is true, we are not worthy of the love of our Father God. But our Father loves us so much that He was willing to sacrifice the life of His Precious Son Jesus for us … and it is in that sacrifice that we now find our worth. We are worth what He was willing to pay for us! What a marvelous honor now to accept God’s love.
My devotion Sunday morning ended with 1John 4:16: “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.” [NLT]
I wonder. Do we really know how much God love us?
