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Monday, April 25, 2011

Father Loves You - Chapter 4

I agree with Kelly that we have overused the word love and lack understanding about it's true meaning. We say we love chocolate, love our spouse, love our friend, and love a sunny day. How can these all be equal? Love from God has to be more.

Bear with me here as I delve into a little bit of a word study. The word love in Colossians 3:12 is the same word that's used in John 3:35. "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands." It's also the same word used in John 13:1. "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love." Think about this. Do you know what Jesus did next? He washed the disciples feet. That's the kind of love that God has for us. In his final hours, he knelt before his disciples, the ones he loved, and became a servant, washing their feet.


I found a beautiful video that may help us to grasp how dearly loved we are. There is an advertisment after the video is over. Women of the Word is not endorsing the ad so feel free to disregard it. I do hope you will take the time to watch the video and ponder God's love for you. Then, choose an answer to one of the questions from chapter 4 (page 195) to share with us. May you rest in his love today.

6 comments:

Lisha said...

I chose to share my answer to question 5. Share with the group a passage of Scripture that speaks to your heart about the love of God. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 145:8. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Jeanette said...

General comment about Ch. 4 - It seems it's been a lifelong process for me to move from the HEAD knowledge of God's love to the intimate SENSING of His love for me. I won't settle, however, for mere knowledge. I long to be loved and love as Jesus did.
Q.6 - Some of the hindrances in my life to accepting and reveling in God's love include my insecurities, character defects, and "weak spots." The shame sets in and it's downhill fast.
Various fears can also eat away at me to the point of not trusting in God's love much less sensing His love for me.
When daily demands and responsbilities pile up, I get out of balance. I become obsessed with them and there too goes my sense of God's love, much less peace.
Fickle emotions that come and go (depending on the hormone levels :) can drag me down very quickly and I'm far from resting in God's love.
At these times I go to God's word, certain friends, various books, and certainly prayer. Thank God, His love IS constant in my ever changing world!

kim said...

Chapter 4 was a powerhouse chapter for me. It spoke so perfectly to an issue that I have dealt with extensively over the years.

The issue of truly accepting God's love has been a challenge for me at specific seasons in my life, particularly due to abandonment and abuse issues.

Because my model for being loved in a fatherly way was both dysfunctional and unhealthy. I had nothing to draw from where love from the Father was concerned.

In my 20s, I cared about this issue, but not so much that I was ready to delve into it deeply. My 30s, however, was a different story altogether. I was ready. And now, as I prepare for my 40s, I am in hot pursuit of God. He continues to show me a healthy, beautiful and wholesome love unmatched by anyone or anything. I am learning continually to receive it and to accept the fact that He delights in me.

Kim

katrina said...

I really enjoy reading your posts :)

#2: Yes, I struggle with accepting God's unfathomable love for me because it feels so religious sometimes - like it's a distant "God-love", not an intimate personal love. My SELF gets so in the way. I DO and DO, not seeing my need for his love all the time. I then lessen it's importance and power.

Gosh I was hurting when I read this chapter. But knowing and reading about how much He loves me and cares for me and knows me, makes me want to BURST into tears and live out those virtues so others may experience His love too. So they may receive the comfort and the joy that comes from that awareness of God's love.

Accepting God's love makes me feel ABLE, Purposeful, On-Purpose, and taken care of :)

diana cummins said...

I am chosing to answer question #5. jOHN 15:13 Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his own life for his friends. That makes me realize just how much God loves us. It's almost hard to phathom that kind of love.

Patti said...

I am chosen, I am chosen. I think about this and try to really accept that He has chosen me. He has pursued me. We have so long held the concept that we are responsible for our salvation. When I try to absorb the concept the He is the pursuer, that He longs to have fellowship with me it takes a stretch of faith for me. I want to learn to just rest in that peace and trust Him with my whole life and being.