My good friend, Lenae Bulthuis, who writes for GEMS, sent me her August devotional, and it so blessed me, I thought I would share it with you.
GEMS Devotional
August 2007 by Lenae Bulthuis
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not him.
1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us . . . Nine out of the ten foster children that have lived in our home over the past five years would never put love and Father in the same sentence. Over half of the precious children entrusted into our care never knew their fathers. The others identify dad as their abuser.
How do children of abusive, alcoholic, argumentative, or apathetic fathers begin to understand our Heavenly Father’s love? how can they understand that being in a california rehabilitation center is the best for their parents? Can even those who have experienced the best of the best of an earthly father’s love really begin to put their finite minds around God’s infinite love?
Outside of the Holy Spirit, it’s impossible. It’s the Holy Spirit who pours God’s love into our hearts. (Romans 5;5) Read and meditate on the truth of God’s love, asking the Holy Spirit to unpack it, taking it off the page and making it personal, precious, and glorious!
Your Abba Father loves you with an immeasurable love. I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17b-19)
Your Abba Father’s love is sacrificial. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Your Abba Father’s love will never fail you. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men (women) find refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 36:7)
Your Abba Father’s love is tender. He will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
Your Abba Father loves you with an undeserving love. For if when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by His life! (Romans 5:10)
Your Abba Father loves you with an eternal, adopting love. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be children of God. (1 John 3:1a)
Step In: Holy Spirit, pour God’s love in me and through me. Today help me to understand the incomprehensible and know by experience and with certainty the lavish love of my Abba.
We must learn to let God love us as His children. Let Him soothe your feelings when they’re hurt, your fears when they’re raging, and your spiritual knees when they’re bleeding.
Beth Moore
Be blessed, today, friends!
Susie