For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life. - John 3:16 ,Head: The most memorized scripture of the Bible. 25 words. They say dynamite comes in small packages. I imagine this little verse to be a very small little package with all the power of the gospel packed inside. Nothing was left to question. It's clear and to the point. Even an unbeliever, if asked, could tell you exactly what it means. God loves us. This one verse can reach hearts to the end of the earth and it can reach those sitting right at your kitchen table. I remember watching a the movie, The Passion, and was crushed by the sacrifice Jesus made for us. As a mother with babies I felt the anguish from a mothers perspective. I could never imagine any one of my children suffering such a death because of false accusations and hate. The verse itself came to life before my eyes and my soul grieved for Jesus and all who loved Him. I often wonder, how can I teach my children just how much they are loved. How can I show them the true, deep, profound, good news that they are SO loved. See what great 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 its hat it did not know him. -John 3:1 Heart: One of my sweet boys sauntered off the school bus. I was greeting my boys and the neighbors too. It was just his style to never be in a hurry, to be relaxed, so I thought nothing of it. After he had been home for a bit I over heard him say to his brother that he wanted to go to our Wednesday night worship that evening because he'd had a bad day. Once in the car I gently asked him what happened and after a bit of probing he confused that another student had insulted him. He lets most things roll off his back like water on a duck, but this was heavy. I looked right at him and said, "God loves you." I proceeded to remind him just how much he was loved and why he was so important. I reminded him of all his qualities and characteristics that made him who he is. The list was much, much longer than what he had been told earlier at school. My life mission, I thought, was to be a mom. Nothing in the world matters more to me than getting my role as a mother right. I realize now, that my life mission is only made possible by telling not only my children, but everyone, that God loves them. This is all of our great mission as Christians. This goes beyond our motherhood. As Christian mothers, it is imperative that we tell the world that God loves us all. This isn't something we are shouting from our roof tops or screaming to the masses. This is a mission that gets eye to eye, belly to belly, one on one, in private so that it can be clearly heart and felt. Jesus spoke this verse directly to one person, Nicodemus, a leading member of the ruling Jewish council. Whoever does not love does not know God, God is love. - 1 John 4:8 Hands: God loves the world, the entire world. He is not picking and choosing who can be His children. He wants us all. His love is for us all. We can't earn it, be born into it, or be good enough for it. The foundation for the relationship we have with God was laid down in this very verse. God will do anything to save us. He would even die for us, He loves us so much. Speaking this verse of love into my children, making sure it is marked on their hearts is the one gift I can give them as a mother that will matter most in the end. We must make sure that we understand the depth of love so that we can help our children understand the depth of love. If there is any question of the gravity of His love in your heart, I encourage you to spend some time asking God to help you understand. Ask Him to teach you and show you through His Word first. Recently, I asked God to light a fire in me for Him, one of passion and unyielding faith. He has done a work on even me. I encourage you to ask the same. Prayer: Lord Father, thank You that I am so loved by You. Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine. Teach me, show me just how much I am loved so that it wells up inside of me and spills directly out onto my family, friends, and community. Lord, I ask that you light a fire in me to tell others about Your. love. Help me to stay focused on sharing the Gospel, the good news, of Jesus. I ask that you unwrap for me the scripture of John 3:16 in a way that is so very powerful to my soul. Lord, I am your servant, I want to see the mission that You have for me in this life clearly. Give me a vision of what is possible when I share with others Your love. In Jesus name, Amen
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorHere! Hold My Crown! Is a forthcoming devotional for mothers. Written by Aimee Larsen, a mother of 5 children. She walked through having a premie, infertility, miracles, foster care, and adoption. Archives
January 2020
Categories |
*Photos are reflective of a handmade or hand stamped design; including naturally occurring materials. It is not intended to represent the exact product you will receive. Variation in shape, color, size should be expected. Each pearl & stone is unique; each piece is unique.