THE LOVE (part 2)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (Ephesians 1:4-5)
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (Ephesians 1:4-5)
Sometimes it can be easy to look at the people around us, particularly friends and family, and assume that the love and acceptance we might receive from them will be sufficient to meet our needs. But even taking the most accepting, forgiving and gracious relationship we might have, it’s clear that that simply isn’t the case. What if that individual moves away or passes away? What, then, of the void that is left? How could we recover from such loss?
We were created to love and be loved, but the truth is that there is only one love that truly fills our hearts and never fails us. The truth is that, as Christians, we are no longer spiritual orphans with a love deficit to fill. We are holy, blameless, unconditionally loved children of God who were chosen before time to be adopted by our Heavenly Father. When we really “get” this truth, our lives can be radically transformed as we break free from the bondage of seeking the approval and acceptance of others.
The world tells us that we must perform well and accomplish certain things in order to be significant. Yet as a child of God, you are already as significant as you could possibly be. Before you were even created, God chose you to be his, and appointed you to make an eternal difference. You cannot get more significant than being hand-picked by the Author of all creation!
God welcomes us into an intimacy that can and should be far deeper and far more sustaining than any other relationship in our lives. We are invited to be free, to be ourselves, living our lives for “an audience of one” – our Father God – whose opinion is the only one that really matters. And he says that we are already fully accepted sons and daughters with a permanent place at home in his family. Wow! What invitation could possibly rival that?!
We were created to love and be loved, but the truth is that there is only one love that truly fills our hearts and never fails us. The truth is that, as Christians, we are no longer spiritual orphans with a love deficit to fill. We are holy, blameless, unconditionally loved children of God who were chosen before time to be adopted by our Heavenly Father. When we really “get” this truth, our lives can be radically transformed as we break free from the bondage of seeking the approval and acceptance of others.
The world tells us that we must perform well and accomplish certain things in order to be significant. Yet as a child of God, you are already as significant as you could possibly be. Before you were even created, God chose you to be his, and appointed you to make an eternal difference. You cannot get more significant than being hand-picked by the Author of all creation!
God welcomes us into an intimacy that can and should be far deeper and far more sustaining than any other relationship in our lives. We are invited to be free, to be ourselves, living our lives for “an audience of one” – our Father God – whose opinion is the only one that really matters. And he says that we are already fully accepted sons and daughters with a permanent place at home in his family. Wow! What invitation could possibly rival that?!
- Be honest. How much of your thought life is concerned with what other people think of you?
- How much impact does working for the acceptance and approval of others have on your daily actions, decisions, and happiness?
- Write down 5 things that you think God loves about you. If you struggle to do this, take a moment to ask him!
Father God, I thank you that you love me on my best days and that you love me on worst days. Thank you that my list of 5 things only represents a tiny fraction of your delight over me. Please help me to know that there is nothing that I can ever do to add or to take away from the position in which you now see me, in Christ. I have an enemy who tricks me into thinking I need to do more and be more. Thank you that the truth is, you have done it all! Amen.
If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Join our online service at everyday.online
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Join our online service at everyday.online