December 2

Dearly Loved Children 

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 134:1-3 | Dan 9:1-11:1 | 1 John 2:18-3:6 |  Proverbs 28:27-28

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 John 2:18-3:6

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 know him. [2] Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:1-2 NIV).

A great theologian was asked what he thought was the most profound thought he had ever had. He replied, “Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.” The words of a simple children’s hymn were more stunning, more profound to him than any of the theological work that he had written or read. To ponder the thought of God’s love toward us–that God lavishes his love on us, calling us his children–is truly amazing.

To truly comprehend the greatness of the Father’s love for you is to be forever changed. That’s why Paul prayed: “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 all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

To experience deeply God’s love–a love that surpasses knowledge–is to be forever changed.

Open your heart to your Father’s love today. Allow him to “pour out his love by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). Abide in it–spend some time there just meditating on how much you are loved. Allow him to reveal how wide and long and high and deep is his love for you. You are his child–his dearly loved child. You are His beloved.

Father, help me to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is your love. Help me to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Amen.