Knowing God's Love | Kristi's Morning Devotional

Have you ever stopped to consider that a child’s love starts in selfishness? That may seem harsh but it’s true.

When a baby first joins our family they are only concerned with their own needs. They cry when they are hungry and get a response; vocalize again and someone will change their wet or messy diaper; squirm and fuss and they find comfort as they are rocked, sung too and cuddled into sleep.

Love, to a baby or small child, is based on the things they receive and the attention they are given. However, as a parent, grandparent or other loving adult we understand that this is just a passing phase. They need us and so we cater to them and their inability to do things for themselves. As they grow we help them express their love to others by sharing, giving hugs and kisses, doing instead of demanding and caring instead of commanding.

Have you ever wondered about the childhood of Jesus? We have very few verses in the Bible to tell us about His upbringing. This morning I read two descriptions in Luke that give insight on Jesus the toddler and Jesus the adolescent.

“Joseph and Mary finished doing all the things that the law of the Lord commanded. Then they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee. ⁴⁰The little boy Jesus was developing into a mature young man, full of wisdom. God was blessing him.” Luke 2:39-40 ERV

“Jesus went with them to Nazareth and obeyed them. His mother was still thinking about all these things. ⁵²As Jesus grew taller, he continued to grow in wisdom. God was pleased with him and so were the people who knew him.” Luke 2:51-52 ERV

Jesus grew and increased in wisdom. He gained favor with his family, his neighbors and with God, the Father. Isn’t that the desire we have for our children as well? It brings us so much joy as parents when our kids show love and compassion for those around them, when they think of others ahead of themselves.

As I read these verses this morning I couldn’t help but ask the Father if I was the kind of child that pleased Him?

Do my actions reflect Him? Is He a proud parent? Does He tap the angels on the shoulder and say “did you see what she just did, that’s my girl”?

My love for the Lord used to be based in selfishness just like a baby’s love. Need based, and the Father understood that but now it’s foundation is gratitude.

“We love Him because He loved us first.” I John 4:19 NLV

I no longer obey and try to please the Father because of what He can “give me” or to earn His love. No, I desire to do what pleases Him because of the amazing magnitude of love that He shows me on a daily basis. The Father is always reaching out to me, calling me to His side, wanting me to spend time in His presence.

But this kind of relationship isn’t just for a select few. It’s not exclusive to those of high calling or those who are good enough. The Father’s unconditional love is available to ALL his children.

“You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me.
Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.” Psalm 16:11 CEV

Thank you Father for lovingly providing all I needed, forgiving my short comings and failures and bringing me into Your family. Thank you for Your love!

For quite some time I have wanted to share the lyrics of an old song with you but first I want you to study this picture.

Please look again. Consider how vast are the ocean and sky. They fill the horizon – all that’s visible are water and sky.

This song was written in 1917, some say it was written in 1923, the author was Frederick Lehman. He was trying to conceptualize the greatness of God’s love. Perhaps he had just read these verses written by the Apostle Paul.

“I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. ¹⁸And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. ¹⁹Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.

²⁰With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. ²¹To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:15-21 CEV

Verse 18 is a verse that I have studied often. Each time I think I am beginning to understand the greatness of God’s love, my scope of understanding is expanded and I realize that I still have so much to truly comprehend.

Paul prayed that we would know, be able to grasp and fully understand the scope and vastness of God’s love. That type of understanding can only come through personal experience. Through that personal, daily, consistent experience with Him, we can be filled with everything God has for us.

Now for the words of this wonderful song that written about 100 years ago. It’s not important that you know the tune, what’s important is the message.

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
- Refrain:
  Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
  How measureless and strong!
  It shall forevermore endure—
  The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

God’s love is measureless and it’s eternal. If the oceans were filled with ink, if every tree on earth was used as a pen and every person on earth were a writer the magnitude of the sky could not begin to contain a complete record of God’s love.

I’m not talking about God’s love for all of human kind. No, I’m referring to God’s love for us individually. If God, my Father, were to write a testament of His love for me there would not be enough GIG space to contain it all, it would dwarf the heavens.

“We pray that the Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father will comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. God loved us and gave us through his grace a wonderful hope and comfort that has no end.” II Thessalonians 2:16-17 CEV

Take time to look up at the sky. Imagine you see written across the heavens “I love you”. That’s really the message God’s wants us to know.

Tag: Knowing God’s Love

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