The Love I Feel
*Watch or listen to the corresponding message here.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you so much for calling me out of darkness and bringing me into the kingdom of your marvelous light. You are the Father, and there is no greater familial love. You are the King, and there is no higher throne. You are Lord, and there is no one I’d rather serve. I love you in this life, through death, and into life again. Forever yours, amen.
Focus
What it feels like to be in the heavenly family.
Devotional
I thank God that the family I was born into was one full of love, safety, and happiness. I loved and looked up to my big sister. I loved and enjoyed playing with my little brother. I loved and was cared for by my mom. I loved and admired my dad. Though my parents divorced when I was around five, I still look back on my upbringing with fond thoughts. It wasn’t perfect, but it was well and good.
Not to devalue the love of the rest of my family, for they were superb, but I think the way my mom loved me was the greatest love I had ever known. She could always make us laugh when she was goofing around. She knew how to care for our wounds—both physical and emotional. She knew how to discipline us without too many rules, but strategic rules were put in place that gave us freedom and would help us grow over time.
If we haven’t met, yes, my mom raised a perfect human—in a fallen, sinful nature, giving it all to Jesus because he saves—kind of way.
My mom was a great lover of her children. But I don’t think she would mind if I said she doesn't love people outside of her family the same. She might die for me, my brother, or my sister, but it would probably be more difficult for her to die for a stranger. Praise Mama Valdivia, but there is one out there who has a boundless love that is willing to die for every person who has ever lived: Jesus.
Jesus died for me. He died for you. He died for the world not only to save us from our sins but also so that we could be adopted into the heavenly family.
Praise God for my family, praise God for my upbringing, and praise God for when you’re adopted into the heavenly family because you’re called to something deeper, and something more.
Yes, deeper. By something deeper, I mean the love I now feel has reached never-before-seen depths. I, recently, honestly, breached a level of love for people so deep that I was confused for about a week. What is this deep… feeling? I wondered, as the love in my heart climbed to new heights, and I had to redefine my understanding of love to make space for the scenery that stretches as far as the eye can see into eternity.
Yes, more. By something more, I mean that, when you feel this eternal kind of love, your heart is simultaneously caught up in rapture, and wants to weep. It’s caught up in rapture because God’s love fills you to overflowing. Your heart goes out to God, it moves inward for yourself, and it goes outward towards others. It’s around here where your heart weeps. When you look at those who don’t know the eternal love that God gives, your heart breaks because you know what they are missing. You know this love, from God, is for everyone. It’s the kind of love you want to share with the world, which, perfectly, is what God calls us to do!
Praise God! Yes! Praise God! It’s a love worth living for. It’s a love worth fighting for (as a child of God fights). And it’s a love worth dying for. “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The more we get to know God, I believe the more the love in our hearts for God, ourselves, and others grows. The more we practice that love for God, ourselves, and others, the more we grow.
Cheers for growth!
My encouragement for you today is to explore your love for God—his love for you, your love for yourself, and your love for others. If you have a journal, write about this love! If inspiration hits, put down a poem! If you like to draw, come up with a sketch! If you like to paint, put something on canvas! If you love symbols like I do, try and capture this love in a symbol unique to you! Whatever helps you to capture love, I hope you’ll bring it to life. Then, share this work with someone. Start a conversation. Make a memory. Who knows what doors God may open for you!
Not to devalue the love of the rest of my family, for they were superb, but I think the way my mom loved me was the greatest love I had ever known. She could always make us laugh when she was goofing around. She knew how to care for our wounds—both physical and emotional. She knew how to discipline us without too many rules, but strategic rules were put in place that gave us freedom and would help us grow over time.
If we haven’t met, yes, my mom raised a perfect human—in a fallen, sinful nature, giving it all to Jesus because he saves—kind of way.
My mom was a great lover of her children. But I don’t think she would mind if I said she doesn't love people outside of her family the same. She might die for me, my brother, or my sister, but it would probably be more difficult for her to die for a stranger. Praise Mama Valdivia, but there is one out there who has a boundless love that is willing to die for every person who has ever lived: Jesus.
Jesus died for me. He died for you. He died for the world not only to save us from our sins but also so that we could be adopted into the heavenly family.
Praise God for my family, praise God for my upbringing, and praise God for when you’re adopted into the heavenly family because you’re called to something deeper, and something more.
Yes, deeper. By something deeper, I mean the love I now feel has reached never-before-seen depths. I, recently, honestly, breached a level of love for people so deep that I was confused for about a week. What is this deep… feeling? I wondered, as the love in my heart climbed to new heights, and I had to redefine my understanding of love to make space for the scenery that stretches as far as the eye can see into eternity.
Yes, more. By something more, I mean that, when you feel this eternal kind of love, your heart is simultaneously caught up in rapture, and wants to weep. It’s caught up in rapture because God’s love fills you to overflowing. Your heart goes out to God, it moves inward for yourself, and it goes outward towards others. It’s around here where your heart weeps. When you look at those who don’t know the eternal love that God gives, your heart breaks because you know what they are missing. You know this love, from God, is for everyone. It’s the kind of love you want to share with the world, which, perfectly, is what God calls us to do!
Praise God! Yes! Praise God! It’s a love worth living for. It’s a love worth fighting for (as a child of God fights). And it’s a love worth dying for. “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The more we get to know God, I believe the more the love in our hearts for God, ourselves, and others grows. The more we practice that love for God, ourselves, and others, the more we grow.
Cheers for growth!
My encouragement for you today is to explore your love for God—his love for you, your love for yourself, and your love for others. If you have a journal, write about this love! If inspiration hits, put down a poem! If you like to draw, come up with a sketch! If you like to paint, put something on canvas! If you love symbols like I do, try and capture this love in a symbol unique to you! Whatever helps you to capture love, I hope you’ll bring it to life. Then, share this work with someone. Start a conversation. Make a memory. Who knows what doors God may open for you!
Closing Prayer
God… Thank you. Thank you so much for the family you have blessed me with, and the heavenly family I will spend eternity with. I’ve learned so much from both families, and know that there is infinitely more to learn as I continue to walk with you. I praise you for the love you’ve lavishly bestowed on us. I’m rendered speechless by your love, which provides me the opportunity to express this ineffable love in endless ways! I thank you for allowing me to share this love with you, myself, and others. It’s a glorious adventure! Amen.
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