We read the Bible and find out that God’s love is immense, so much so that it is really beyond what we can fathom. It is also unmerited. It can be hard to internalize, and I wonder why. I believe the Scripture whole-heartedly after examining it and asking many questions in my youth. The reality that Jesus came, lived a righteous life, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day are not things I question any longer. Yet although he came and lived and died for me, it is hard for me to understand his great love (and I am one of those people that like to understand everything!) I know in my mind that it is truly beyond comprehension, but at the same time I long to grasp His love more and more, because it is the security of His love that will give me peace, joy, and the ability to live life well.
Perhaps it is the society we live in, perhaps it is our human nature, but I find myself stuck on the thought that God’s love seems too good to be true. As soon as I say it, I know it is a lie. I know that it is true for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the story of salvation in Jesus is certainly not something humankind would make up. We naturally live by weights and measures, good deeds vs. bad deeds, complete with rewards and punishments.
God’s unmerited favor, his grace, is totally unfair. This can be viewed positively or negatively. Positively I am in awe of God’s saving grace through Jesus, knowing that I deserve nothing but death. Negatively, I know that sin pollutes the world, and I somewhat guard myself, bracing myself for something catastrophic to happen to me. This negative perspective breeds a spirit of fear rather than a spirit of hope, gratefulness for each day, and joy in the moment. Instead I begin to fear God’s grace running out. I fail to trust Him fully with my life and my family. I have a hard time accepting the gifts of life and love, because I wonder if it will be taken away. (Think Job.)
I know this perspective is skewed and wrong, but I wrestle with the emotions around it.
To date there are two things that have helped me manage my fears, as well as grasp God’s love and live by it a little bit more. First, a little book by Tim Keller called Prodigal God helped me picture God as my Father. He became more real to me through that sermon series turned book. So I look back and remind myself of the Scripture there, and also elsewhere…. I keep preaching the gospel to myself essentially. I seek to fill my mind with what is right and good, and in time I trust those truths will become a part of me.
Second, my children have given me a hope in the God who loves us for the simple reason that I love my kids so much. No matter what they do, no matter what happens, I can’t imagine my love for them ever going away. Why not? Because they’re my kids. They do not realize the love I have for them, nor do they understand all that I do for them or why I tell them “no” or “wait” at times.
God's love is completely beyond the love of a parent for his child. We are His children, and He is the perfect parent.
I hope my children get a taste of that agape love, even in our imperfect home. I hope and pray they won’t wrestle as much with accepting the reality of God’s love because they saw it lived in this place. May God help us believe and love Him more and more.
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:16-18
Perhaps it is the society we live in, perhaps it is our human nature, but I find myself stuck on the thought that God’s love seems too good to be true. As soon as I say it, I know it is a lie. I know that it is true for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the story of salvation in Jesus is certainly not something humankind would make up. We naturally live by weights and measures, good deeds vs. bad deeds, complete with rewards and punishments.
God’s unmerited favor, his grace, is totally unfair. This can be viewed positively or negatively. Positively I am in awe of God’s saving grace through Jesus, knowing that I deserve nothing but death. Negatively, I know that sin pollutes the world, and I somewhat guard myself, bracing myself for something catastrophic to happen to me. This negative perspective breeds a spirit of fear rather than a spirit of hope, gratefulness for each day, and joy in the moment. Instead I begin to fear God’s grace running out. I fail to trust Him fully with my life and my family. I have a hard time accepting the gifts of life and love, because I wonder if it will be taken away. (Think Job.)
I know this perspective is skewed and wrong, but I wrestle with the emotions around it.
To date there are two things that have helped me manage my fears, as well as grasp God’s love and live by it a little bit more. First, a little book by Tim Keller called Prodigal God helped me picture God as my Father. He became more real to me through that sermon series turned book. So I look back and remind myself of the Scripture there, and also elsewhere…. I keep preaching the gospel to myself essentially. I seek to fill my mind with what is right and good, and in time I trust those truths will become a part of me.
Second, my children have given me a hope in the God who loves us for the simple reason that I love my kids so much. No matter what they do, no matter what happens, I can’t imagine my love for them ever going away. Why not? Because they’re my kids. They do not realize the love I have for them, nor do they understand all that I do for them or why I tell them “no” or “wait” at times.
God's love is completely beyond the love of a parent for his child. We are His children, and He is the perfect parent.
I hope my children get a taste of that agape love, even in our imperfect home. I hope and pray they won’t wrestle as much with accepting the reality of God’s love because they saw it lived in this place. May God help us believe and love Him more and more.
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:16-18
