"Follow Me"
Day Three
Resting in Love
“You are in me and I am in
you.”
John 17:21
“[You] have loved them even
as you have loved me.”
John 17:23
These verses from John 17 are words Jesus prayed to
his Father, giving us insight into his assurance of
God the Father’s love for him – a love that is intimate,
definite and eternal. Then Jesus says that God loves
us as much as he loves his Son Jesus!
Reading that verse initially provides us with much
security. What a thrill! What a blessing! Jesus is loved
by God, and we are loved by God just as much. What an
honor . . . until it dawns on us that God was about
to allow his Son to die. How could Jesus talk so passionately
about the Father’s love for him and for us, knowing
what was about to unfold?
It was because he was so confident in God’s love, that
he knew God’s plan for him was perfect. What was about
to happen to Jesus (his crucifixion) was a consequence
of God’s love for us. He was willing to sacrifice his
greatly loved Son to reconcile us to him. What
incredible, committed love!
Yes, tough, ugly things happen to those God loves.
God’s love does not insulate us from the consequences
of living in a fallen world. God loved Jesus, and Jesus
was crucified here on earth. Yet, even in the midst
of Jesus’ own impending personal crisis, his assurance
of God’s love was deep and solid. Loving God and his
loving us doesn’t mean that our lives will be idyllic,
but we can have a sense of security in knowing God loves
us. Also, if we have accepted Jesus, he is with us and
in us. Our circumstances are not a barometer of God’s
love for us.
Does the world see assurance of God’s love and his
supernatural peace in us when we face our own confusing,
tragic crises? Our friends are not looking for answers
when they feel their lives are wonderful. It’s when
they feel things are coming apart that they seek answers,
watching what we do when our worlds supposedly “crumble.”
Can we profess confidence in God’s love at the death
of a child, at the discovery of cancer or at the loss
of a job? Tough questions, but important, nonetheless.
Let us rejoice in the assurance that God loves us as
he loves Jesus, no matter what our personal circumstances
may be. Jesus did that. We are invited to follow.
Pray Today
Pray that you would be ever-mindful of the depths
of God’s love for you. Pray that because of that love,
you would be compelled to deeply love others as a witness
for Jesus, just as Jesus loved you enough to bring you
to his Father.
Download PDF
of Day Three
< Day
Two | Articles | Day
Four >
|
