Friday | The Father's Love

The Father's Love

Toast? No, not the toast, the butter...

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1John 3:1 [NIV]

That word 'lavished' reminds me of being generous when buttering your toast. The Father's love for you is lavished upon you. Sadly, not all translators agree, and this highly descriptive term is reduced to 'much love' or some equivalent.

The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, begins, For God so loved the world... His love is extended to all, yet like any genuine love, it awaits to be reciprocated. The invitation in John 3:16, is to whosoever believes. The language in 1 John 3:1 is both corporate (written to a church or groups of churches) yet it carries conveys the personal and singular, His love is for you individually, and together, with other believers, we are called His children. The language has a sense of intense affection; perfect parental love, protective yet freeing.

To add to this you can read Luke 15, the three 'Lost' parables. Watch the father run out to greet his wayward son, kiss him, hug him, clothe him, covering his shame and reinstating him with a ring and new shoes. Extraordinary. Such love. Such 'lavish' love even amidst our unresolved faults. Remember from earlier in the week, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control ...? Well, these are the fruit of the Spirit, the attributes of God, our Heavenly Father has all these qualities too!

A Prayer

Humble me. Open my heart to accept the Father's love. Remove from my thoughts and lips any negative language that would seek to stop me from receiving God's precious unfailing love. I am a child of God, accepted, secure and valued in God's eyes. Amen.