“Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize him. Beloved, we are God’s children right now; however, it is not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is. And all who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 (TPT)

Truth is relevant. Sometimes it feels like a teeter totter, but ultimately God’s truth stands the test of time. God’s ways are not our ways and God’s thoughts are not our thoughts but when we live in Christ, we slowly and radically become like Him. We have the mind of Christ when we are walking in the Spirit and rest on the assurance that His love covers a multitude of sins: past, present and future.

With the love of God, we have assurance. The things we know, we need to drill down on. We need to really lock into the idea of what the love of God can do for us and through us. Whoever knows God, the love of God is perfected in him. Whatever we ask, He hears us. When we believe in the love of God and receive it, we change from the inside out and start to walk in a godly manner that others start to take note of.  

 “This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He commanded us.” 1 John 3:19-23 (ESV)

We tend to condemn ourselves for any of the many mistakes we make. Condemn means to be legally unfit for habitation. When we walk in condemnation, we are not walking in the love of Christ. We make our problems and our sins bigger than His love and His grace and mercy. We cannot keep on walking in condemnation when we come to realize just how big the love of God is towards us. We can’t keep walking in unrepentant sin either. It gets too uncomfortable to the point we turn back from our wicked ways and turn back to Him.

“Those who have been born into God’s family do to make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” 1 John 3:9 (NLT)

When we fellowship with God and other believers, we are comforted and our hearts feel lighter because we’re accepted by God and by other people. We are made for significance. We are made to reign and have dominion. Our significance gets out of alignment when our belonging to God gets out of sight. Sinning can and will do that if we continue in it. It’s like a huge warning beacon goes off reminding us to return to our heavenly Father in sincere repentance and change our way of thinking to align with His way of thinking. We are His and sinning doesn’t change that, but it can wage war on our souls if we continue in it.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your souls.” 1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22 (ESV)

Significance is solved when our hearts are clear about belonging, not only to God as His beloved children, but fellowshipping with other believers. We are in a world that doesn’t accept us and rejects the way God sees and thinks about people. We need other children of God to edify and correct us when we go off the beaten path. God will always chase us down and bring us back home, even when we are walking in shame. His character would have no one be lost to the darkness and that all would seek repentance and turn back towards His marvelous light.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own special possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

Abiding is to actively receive and trust in His unfailing love. Abiding also means participating and sitting at His feet and can also mean when we are moved to compassion by other people.

To behold Him is to be riveted by His love. The love we’re talking about is worth beholding and modeling after. What if we’re approaching it out of a work mindset instead of a love mindset? That means we are working and doing for the kingdom to get His love when it is already there for us to receive.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1, 2 (KJV)

God bestows His love on us freely. It’s not out of striving or anything that we’ve done, God’s love is a free gift, with no stipulations. He made this love accessible when Jesus Christ chose the cross and died a horrific death for our sins. He was then raised back to life to show that He was truly the Son of God. He did all of this from the love He felt for all humanity. When you grasp the love of God and receive His love, you receive a gift. Living with the assurance of the Father’s love is paramount to living a life surrendered to Him. What would happen if you were overshadowed by the love of God?

Seeing someone and knowing they love God is not by what they say but by how they carry themselves. Are they walking in love? You can’t really walk in love when you don’t feel like you are loved and wanted. Believe me, I have tried. When I fully grasp the Father’s love, it is so much easier to carry myself with the love He does. Fear has been a major hindrance to me receiving the love of the Father.

“But those who embraced Him and took hold of His name were given authority to become the children of God!” John 1:12 (TPT)

This love is miracle love! This is a love that makes the violent sinner clean, changes the heart of our enemies, pours out oil on the feet of Jesus. It is expansive, inclusive and filled with precious gifts and promises. It persuades the world that Jesus was sent by His Father to save us! When the world sees that love, there’s hope for the world… There’s a difference between quoting the love of God and being bestowed with the love of God. Quoting the love of God means you know it in your head but being bestowed means knowing it and receiving it in your heart.

 For too long I have quoted the love of God and gotten nowhere. It is time to dig deep into the recesses of my soul and believe and receive His love. Then and only then can I live a life surrendered to Him, walking in the truth of His love so that I’m able to receive it and bestow it on other people. We are not meant to keep this love to ourselves. It was meant to be shared, but you can’t share what you don’t believe you have. So receive the Father’s love and let it consume your heart!

Isaiah 62:4 ESV: “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.”