God Loves You

God Loves You. Such a simple, yet profound statement. I've been comtimplating it lately. Thinking about the difference it would make in my life if I would let it sink into my soul and really live like I believe it. Here's what I've come up with.

God: the sovereign creator of the universe, all knowing, just, rich in every way. It's so big that I almost can't get my mind around it. How does one actually define God - He's everything good, without anything bad. And yet that hardly begins to do justice in describing Him. To sit in His presence is to be known in a way that strips away any preconceived idea. He describes himself as "I AM." To be honest, that about covers it. As a human to comprehend that it's enough to just "be" is almost impossible, and yet that's exactly what he tells us. I believe myself to be a secure person, but if someone were to ask me to describe myself, "I am" wouldn't come close to be the answer. That is ultimate security. That is who He is.

Love: 1 Corinthians 13 describes love eloquently. Love is patient and kind, not quick to anger...etc. Seems like way too much for me to live up to on an average day. We describe it as an emotion, but also a choice. We "love" ice cream, but we also "love" our family - I'm pretty sure we're not meaning the same thing about both. I sometimes get the feeling that we either put love way up on a pedastal or dilute it completely. As I've contimplated this - I've really tried to get a perspective on love. What I've come up with is that like God, love is defined very simply, yet perfectly. When God loves us, it is perfect. When we accept His love, we are accepting what we can not receive from any other. No, not even ice cream! God's love is secure and when we accept His love we are secure.

You: I've learned somethings about myself over the last several weeks that are quite profound. Specifically that the way I define myself is very different from the way that God defines me. I'm broken - whether as a result of living in a fallen world or the fallout of a dsyfunctional family - I cannot, in anyway define myself and come close to what God thinks of me. The harder I tried, the farther off I was. He brings me into complete clarity. Instead of dwelling on my perceived weaknesses, He is cultivating what He planted in me during my creation and I'm discovering that "I am enough." Go figure. When I allow Him to define me, He includes a definition of Himself. That's because I am created in His image. Even with all of my faults and shortcomings, because of Christ's sacrifice and triumph over death, I can walk without shame and in total security.

I hope you can see that God's love for you is perfect and when breathed in like a sweet aroma, and allowed to marinate your soul, you find a place of security that allows you to be who He created you to be. Belive it, live it out everyday in your life.