Devotionals

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“See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God’s children – and so, in fact, we are” – 1 John 3:1 (GNB).

There is no limit to God’s greatness. The psalmist describes the Lord’s attributes in a song of praise (Psalms 104:1-5) and tells us that He is clothed with honor and majesty, He covers Himself with light as a garment, He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, He lays the beams of His chambers in the waters, He makes the clouds His chariot and walks upon the wings of the wind, He makes His angels spirits and ministers a flaming fire and He laid the immovable foundations of the earth. God often revealed Himself in various forms to His people in the days of old: as Elohim (the trinity), El Shaddia (Almighty God), Adonai (Lord and Master), Provider (Jireh), Healer (Rapha) and so on. Yet, the most captivating revelation of the gospel is that this God of the universe, in all His glory and splendor, chooses to manifest Himself to us as a loving Father.

The popular scripture (John 3:16) shows us that God sent His only begotten (Jesus), not just out of our need for eternal life. It was purely motivated by His magnificent and immaculate love for us. This is emphasized in the phrase “so loved”. Apostle Paul expresses the infinitude of this love in Ephesians 3:18-19. “…so that you, together with all God’s people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ’s love. 19 Yes, may you come to know His love – although it can never be fully known – and so be completely filled with the very nature of God” (GNB). Apostle John - perhaps short of words to convey this message - simply personified God as love. “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. 8 Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 And God showed His love for us by sending His only son into the world, so that we might have life through Him” – 1 John 4:7-9 (GNB). Through this love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we were adopted into God’s family when we believed (Romans 8:15).

Our identity as Christians and the entirety of our faith in Jesus is more than just a relationship or mere presumption based on hope. It is a family union. God has chosen to call us His children in love, and as many that believe this gospel are empowered to live in its reality (John 1:18). In Jesus’ earthly ministry, He remarkably always referred to God as ‘ The Father’ (or ‘your heavenly Father’). In one of His amazing sermons, He points out that the affection of our earthly fathers - in all its authenticity - can be sometimes flawed, and is nothing compared to the heavenly Father’s love for us (Matthew 7:11).

In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus conveys to us an exquisite persona of God (represented as the father). One remarkable observation in the story is that the father’s love was never in doubt, despite the defiance of the rebellious son. As he returned from a far country where he had squandered all that was apportioned to him, he remorsefully tried to present a rehearsed speech, hoping to soften the father’s heart. Before he could begin, the father immediately revealed his perpetual love for him by compassionate hugs and kisses, and arranging the best welcome party ever! The older brother who was out in the fields, coming home and hearing the sound of music and dancing, apparently questioned his father’s love for him. He had been around all this while and had never had a party thrown on his behalf. Yet again, the father gave the most loving and assured response. “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours” – Luke 15:31. There is love enough for everyone.

All our loving Father requires of us is to believe, accept and daily revel in the consciousness of His great love for us. In this, we walk in God’s fullness and experience exceeding and abundant manifestations of His grace upon our lives. “…to know the love of Christ which passes all knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” – Ephesians 3:19-20 (NKJV).

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