1 JOHN 4:9-10
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
TO PONDER
As a parent, Summer holidays always leave me feeling a deeper sense of respect and admiration for my own parents. There are days and times when the lack of thoughtfulness my children display towards each other, and even towards their mother and I is simply astounding - I thought we raised them better than that.
The lack of gratitude they express, particularly with a pile of new Christmas presents still waiting to be packed away neatly, is also pretty upsetting.
The expectation that Elise and I would be their constant source of entertainment for every moment of the Summer, when they have each other, a cupboard full of board games, a backyard, bikes to ride, video games to play and various books to read and craft activities to do is simply mind-blowing to me. If I was like that for my own parents, I have only one thing to say - Sorry Mum and Dad!
And yet, when I reflect on this experience in light of today's reading, it reminds me somewhat of the dynamic of my relationship with God. I often go to him in prayer demanding that he fix my problems or make my life more the way I want it to be. I often go to him expecting a loving response, while I myself have been acting appallingly towards someone else and not been loving at all. I'm sure I have regularly asked for more from God without taking a moment to recognise and be grateful for all he has already given me. Then I realise the scope of his love for me and how I'm supposed to love my kids.
The love we get from God is not based on anything we do or don't do. Just like a parent's love for their children isn't based on what they do. it is simply based on who they are, they are your kids and so you love them - even when they might be frustrating you to pieces. God loves us because we are his children. Nothing you do will change that. Remembering what God has done through Jesus, to demonstrate that love to you, is a great story to tell others and a great way to inspire a greater and deeper love for others within yourself.
PRAYER:Heavenly Father, I am sorry for when I must make it hard for you to love me, but I know that you still do. Thank you for everything you have done to demonstrate that love, and to let me know that I am your child. Please help me to help others to know that too by sharing the story of all you have done for me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.