LOVE LIKE GOD LOVES
Sarah Sloan
Today's Scripture: ““But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!’” Luke 15:17, ESV
Theme: Be the kind of person who is available to servants and sons, generous with your resources, time, mercy, and love.
LEARNING FROM AND WITH MY DAD
One of the greatest blessings in my life is that I am the daughter of a remarkably loving father. From him, I learned so many of life’s most valuable lessons. I learned how to have a relationship with God and how to follow God’s leading in my life. I learned how to humbly apologize, how to laugh at myself, how best to sprint the 100-yard dash, how to refinish furniture, how to camp, and how to have an adventurous spirit.
Growing up, my dad was my best friend. We did everything together. If he picked up a new hobby—like gardening, kayaking, or wake boarding—then I learned it, too. When I signed up for a sport, Dad was right there learning it and practicing it along with me.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Though I can tell you that I never wanted to disappoint him, I also didn’t fear disappointing him or the consequences of that action. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that my daddy had promised to love me no matter what, and that he would keep that promise and forgive me whenever I messed up. My dad has always been straightforward and honest. He has definitely called me out over the years. And I certainly did disappoint him from time to time. I let him down and have too often gotten into arguments with him over silly things. Yet his arms have always been open wide, and his grace and forgiveness have always been generously given.
This truth-speaking, grace-filled, forgiveness and generous love from my earthly father is what helped me to see my Heavenly Father rightly. It’s what has made God’s love so real and clear. Experiencing my dad’s love and forgiveness made it easier for me to understand and accept God’s lavish love and forgiveness. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1a, ESV).
If there’s anything I wish I could learn to imitate from my father, it is the ability to be available to repeatedly and generously give fresh starts and be open-armed with my love.
Make It Personal: Maybe today your generous love, forgiveness, and grace can help someone experience the love that their Heavenly Father has for them. Will you make yourself available to love generously and sacrificially like Jesus? If you haven’t been loved like this before, please don’t give up. God loves you with a love that no mere human could fathom or hope to attain. His arms are open wide, and His forgiveness is also deep and wide. Would you run to Him today and experience the all-encompassing love that He wants to generously lavish on you?
Pray: Lord God, thank You for being my loving Father. Thank You for Your continual, unconditional, redeeming love for me. Help me to share that mercy, forgiveness, and generousness of spirit with all: friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, and especially “enemies” and those who need a second chance. It will only be possible by Your Spirit; help me Lord, to love as You love. In Your Name, Amen.
Read: 1 John 4:7-12; Colossians 3:12-17
Weekly Memory Verse: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, ESV