September 17, 2015
They are the ones with the problem!
Ephesians 5:1
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
Of course, I appreciate the instruction of this passage to imitate God; it helps with daily living and decision making to love what God loves and hate what he hates (see yesterday’s read & share). But the part of this verse that is jumping off the page at me today are the words dear children.
Dear children... I learned this verse in the NIV, and it says to follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.
Because of who God is and how God is, I am dearly loved just the way I am.
This is really good news for the wallflowers and last ones picked for teams. This is really good news for moms having “one of those days.” This is really good news for the overlooked worker, the unpopular and the late bloomer. It’s not you; it’s them.
Dearly loved children... Ever seen the audacity of someone who is dearly loved? Dearly loved children are bold to try things and confident whether they succeed or fail because they know they are already loved and accepted by the ones who really count, and nothing can change that.
I’ve told this story before, but I saw an interview on TV with John Travolta once. He described how as the baby of the family his whole family was crazy about him. When he got older and went out for interviews and auditions and didn’t get the part he wanted, he always left thinking something was wrong with them because he knew it couldn’t be him because all he knew was that his family loved everything he did.
Now, I am not endorsing indulging children; that certainly isn’t what God does. But I am saying we can enjoy extreme confidence that seems audacious to the world because God loves us because that’s who he is and how he operates. And he won’t let anything separate me from his love. Not ever.
Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
If the world doesn’t like me for imitating God and for following his example THEY are the ones with the problem. There is nothing wrong with me, for I know that I am dearly loved!
Dear God,
Thank you for accepting me and loving me. Thank you for teaching me to be like your Son. And thank you that your love and acceptance isn’t based on anything I can do for you; it’s simply based on you and how you have decided to love and accept me for believing in Jesus. Thank you so much! Thank you for being so kind and compassionate and thank you for Jesus. I love you and thank you and pray in his name, amen.
They are the ones with the problem!
Ephesians 5:1
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
Of course, I appreciate the instruction of this passage to imitate God; it helps with daily living and decision making to love what God loves and hate what he hates (see yesterday’s read & share). But the part of this verse that is jumping off the page at me today are the words dear children.
Dear children... I learned this verse in the NIV, and it says to follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.
Because of who God is and how God is, I am dearly loved just the way I am.
This is really good news for the wallflowers and last ones picked for teams. This is really good news for moms having “one of those days.” This is really good news for the overlooked worker, the unpopular and the late bloomer. It’s not you; it’s them.
Dearly loved children... Ever seen the audacity of someone who is dearly loved? Dearly loved children are bold to try things and confident whether they succeed or fail because they know they are already loved and accepted by the ones who really count, and nothing can change that.
I’ve told this story before, but I saw an interview on TV with John Travolta once. He described how as the baby of the family his whole family was crazy about him. When he got older and went out for interviews and auditions and didn’t get the part he wanted, he always left thinking something was wrong with them because he knew it couldn’t be him because all he knew was that his family loved everything he did.
Now, I am not endorsing indulging children; that certainly isn’t what God does. But I am saying we can enjoy extreme confidence that seems audacious to the world because God loves us because that’s who he is and how he operates. And he won’t let anything separate me from his love. Not ever.
Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
If the world doesn’t like me for imitating God and for following his example THEY are the ones with the problem. There is nothing wrong with me, for I know that I am dearly loved!
Dear God,
Thank you for accepting me and loving me. Thank you for teaching me to be like your Son. And thank you that your love and acceptance isn’t based on anything I can do for you; it’s simply based on you and how you have decided to love and accept me for believing in Jesus. Thank you so much! Thank you for being so kind and compassionate and thank you for Jesus. I love you and thank you and pray in his name, amen.
RSS Feed