Imagine a lapidarist looking through her loupe and discovering the purist, whitest diamond she’s ever seen, cut with such precision that the stone sparkles with startling intensity. Can you imagine her, turning the stone this way and that, to marvel at the treasure?
In similar fashion, I invite you to marvel at and enjoy another treasure, a treasure of the heart–God’s love.
With the loupe of meditation, consider that God’s love is . . .
. . . unfathomable
“When we meditate on this amazing love, our souls may well faint for joy.”[1]
. . . unstoppable
“Every door that opens into a treasure of love shows another door into another treasury beyond. We need not fear that we shall ever come to the end of God’s goodness, or any experience for which he will have no blessing ready.”[2]
. . . unearned
“God loves us because of who he is, not because of who we are.”—Unknown
. . . unconditional
“When I begin the day drenched in [God’s secure love]—that centering awareness of my worth and connection to God—the day is different. I don’t have to scramble or hustle. Fear dissipates . . . because unconditional love changes everything.”[3]
. . . unwavering
“God’s steadfast love is chesed [in Hebrew], which means ‘kind, generous, loyal, and unfailing.’ Chesed means kindness on steroids.”[4]
. . . unfailing
“God’s goodness is near us. It is not a goodness far away, but God follows us with His goodness in whatever situation we are. He attaches Himself to us, He has made Himself close, that He might be near us in goodness.
“He is a father, and everywhere to maintain us. He is a husband, and everywhere to help. He is a friend, and everywhere to comfort and counsel. His love is a near love. He has taken upon Himself the closest kinds of relationships, so that we may never lack God and the evidences of His love.”[5]
. . . unlimited
“With both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”[6]
* * * * * * * * * *
I praise you, Heavenly Father, for these facets of your lavish love that only begin to describe your devotion to us. I praise You that, out of your tender-hearted love, your foremost objective is always our best interest. And I praise you for guiding us on the path toward the abundant life you so desire to give us.
May the beauty and magnitude of your love sparkle with such intensity in our spirits that nothing will be able to discourage us.
1 John 3:1; Romans 8:28; Psalm 23:3; John 10:10
[1] Charles Spurgeon, Morning by Morning, 158.
[2] J. R. Miller, quoted in Seasons of the Lord by Herbert Lockyer, 199.
[3] Shauna Niequist, Present over Perfect, 205.
[4] Chrystal Evans Hurst, Kingdom Woman Devotional, 109.
[5] Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), Puritan theologian
[6] Ephesians 3:17-18 MSG
Art and photo credits: http://www.pexels.com (Plato Terentev); http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.rawpixel.com (2).
From the Inside Out 