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| picture from google images |
Chan then shared about his own four children, and described how he interacts a little differently with each of them. He shows them his love in individual ways, in the ways that will mean the most to each of them. For example, his oldest daughter is in high school, and the way that she feels the most loved is when her dad sits down and just listens to her. Contrastingly, Chan's younger son feels the most loved when his dad wrestles and roughhouses with him.
As their father, Chan greatly loves each of his children, and he doesn't have a favorite between them. The way he shows his love for each of them varies, though, as each of his children are unique individuals and have different personalities and likes/dislikes. Just because he shows them his love in varying ways does not mean that he loves them differently, or one more than another. He just lavishes his love on each of them in the way that will mean the most.
Isn't God's love the same way? 1 John 3:1 says "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are made part of the family of God--God adopts us into His own family. Romans 8:15 says that "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” We are brought into the family of God, brought into sonship. Through Christ, we have the privilege to call God our Father. What a gift!
As I was thinking about the Father's love for us, I realized that His love for each of us is shown in various ways too, just as Chan shows his children his love in individual ways. God created each of us to be unique and one-of-a-kind, and He gave us different gifts and talents. Our Abba Father loves each of His children--He lavishes His love on us--and the greatest way He shows us His love is through the gift of salvation paid for with Christ's blood.
I also think, however, that God shows us His love in individual ways. As our Father, He knows each of us personally and intimately. He knows me better than anyone else does or ever will, and because of that I believe that He knows how to love me better than anyone else will ever be able to. He created me, knitting me together in my mother's womb (Psalm 139), He adopted me (Ephesians 1:5), and He is with me always (Hebrews 13:5). I believe that God shows me His love in ways that will mean the most to me, because He knows me better than anyone, and loves me more than anyone else.
God knows what is best for me, and how to best love me. His love is true, holy, and great. Sometimes His love for me is shown through discipline, sometimes it is shown through those around me, sometimes it is shown through a song that touches my heart at the right time. His love is shown to us over and over again each day, through the grace He grants, through the gift of another day, through the faithfulness He displays. No matter how God lavishes His love on you or me, we can be sure that His love will never fail (1 Corinthians 13, 1 Chronicles 16:34).
How blessed we are to serve a God who is our Father--a Father who lavishes His love on us! He loves us as His children, dearly and completely. He loves us individually, uniquely, and with a love that we cannot comprehend.
"How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure."
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