God’s Love Is So BIG!

Read John 3:14-21

 

 “How great is the love our Father has lavished upon us!”

1 John 3:1 (NIV)

 

 

“I will always love you, son!”  These comforting words spoken by my 95-year-old Dad made me grateful for the privilege of our relationship and time together.  “All love comes from God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7).  My Dad is a gift of God’s love to me.

 

While pondering this, I read an inspiring story about a disabled 11-year-old girl, Madison Atwood, in Brentwood, Tennessee.  Madison was painting a picture for her dad.  An artist friend, Holly, outlined a huge heart in pencil, and Madison traced it in bright colors. Then, Madison painted a small circle over the heart and explained it was the globe, saying, “Our world is so small, but God’s love is so big!”  What a wonderful reminder!  Madison’s print is a visual image of her favorite Bible verse – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) – and a beautiful expression of God’s gift of love to the world. 

 

Upon reading this, I prayed, “Thank you, God!” – and experienced a fresh presence of the Lord.  “God showed His great love for us by allowing Christ to die on the Cross” (Romans 5:8).   I can not begin to comprehend such an incomparable love.  “The love of God in Jesus Christ is too wonderful to be measured” (Ephesians 3:19).    When I open my heart to Jesus, I realize that God loves everybody and wants to give His life to all people.  Only then, am I transformed so I can be a gift of God’s love to others.  So “BIG!” is God’s love for us!    

 

Prayer:  Father, we shall forever give praise and thanks for Your gift of love in Jesus. Guide us to be a reflection of Your loving Spirit to others, so that all may come to know and experience Your great love.  Amen.

 

Thought for the Day

God loves everybody!  Whoever we are, wherever we are, God loves us!

 

Harold Webster, Jr. (Staunton, Virginia)