We live in a world where for many the term “father” denotes a dictator. He is a male figure who gives orders at home and is hardly around. He doesn’t know much about his kids, and always forgets their birthdays or important events.
Many Christian youths who grew up around such a male figure may find it difficult to believe that God is a loving Father. One very distinctive nature of God is His fatherhood. ( Abba ). Throughout scripture, I see countless references to God as Father. Jesus referred to Him as Father. However, this was an issue back then and the religious people saw it as blasphemy. Because to call God “father” was to claim you were his child (John 5:18).
To them(the religious folks) God is the creator and the lord of the host. He is the One who fights battles and part the red sea. He is way too mighty and great to be Father. But that’s who He Is! Plus He’s not just any Father, He is the one that loves. It is of utmost importance that you Come to the realization that you are loved by a God, who is not only your creator but also your dad.
What does it mean to be loved by God?
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1
Let’s examine the above verse. Firstly John is admonishing us to see. This means we as believers need to actively participate in understanding God’s love.
What did God do with that love? He lavished(i.e bestow His love in generous and extravagant quantity) on us. This love of God is called the Agape Love( a love so pure, sacrificial and unconditional)
How did The Father demonstrate His love for you?
1. He gave you Himself in the person of Jesus:
In Christ, we see all the attributes of the Father (Colossians 1:15 ). This is clearly stated in 1 John 4: 9-10. Paul also made mention of this when he said “But God showed His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”. It was when you were in your lowest low and had no clue that you needed saving, that was when God showed His love for you. You did not have to work for it. His love for you was not based on how good you behaved or how perfect you looked and sounded. His love came when you least expected it and it came at a price. While you were dead in sin His love gave you life. Now, this is what it means to be loved by God.
He gave you His Spirit to dwell in You:
The Holy Spirit enables you to understand the fatherhood of God. Scriptures say “He bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” ( Romans 8:16). He also enables us to cry out “Father” (Romans 8:15). He also enables you to love God the way you ought to love him i.e the love of God is shed abroad in our heart through the Holyspirit(Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit is the best spiritual gift given to you by God as proof of His love for you.
Join The Family!!
How does this knowledge benefit you?
Guess what? You will not always feel like you are loved by God. As you go through life, you will be faced with so many situations that would make you question God’s love. There will be days when you feel far away from God. You might feel like you have to level up or work to meet a certain standard in order to be loved by Him. This is where knowledge comes in. Knowing that you are loved by God enables you to:
1) Stand not condemn (Romans 8 vs 1) :
Condemnation is that feeling of guilt that comes with sin. As long as you are in Christ Jesus, you are loved by God thus you are not condemned. Regardless of what you do or do not do, God still looks at you with love. When he sees you he doesn’t see a stranger rather he sees his beloved child fully clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
2 ) You are not afraid of Judgement (1 John:4vs 16-18) :
It’s appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgement (Hebrews 9;27). While those that are outside of Christ will face the full wrath of God, you in Christ have no fear. You don’t have to be afraid to face God because you have a relationship with him.
3) You know and rely upon God’s love:
To be truly loved by God is to know that you are fully known and taken care of. Knowing this will enable you to put your trust in God and rely on Him to walk you through life.
4) You establish a relationship with him :
Nothing is as sweet as having a relationship with God. Knowing that you are loved by God makes it easy for you to relate with Him.
5) You are empowered to stand against the lies and accusations of the devil:
Satan is the father of lies. He delights in making believers question their identity and place in God’s kingdom. Being fully aware that you are loved by God enables you to withstand the devil’s lies. Whenever he comes whispering in your ears, saying all kinds of nonsense, you can take your stand as a loved child and shut him up. Always remember that the devil doesn’t have the power to separate you from the love of God (Roman 8:38-39)
6) You rejoice in tribulation:
To be truly loved by God means you have reached that place of assurance. You understand that in this world you will face difficulties but you also have full confidence that it’s not In the nature of the Father to punish His children. You have hope that in the end the Father will restore, strengthen and establish you (1 Peter 5:10)
7) You are able to love others as the Father has loved you:
Loving your neighbours no matter how difficult they are, becomes easy when you know that the Father has loved you regardless of your flaws.
8) You walk in the light and live out the life of Christ:
It’s not just enough to know that you are loved by God, you have to walk in that love. The whole point of God’s love is to conform you into the image of Christ which is your true nature.
Conclusion.
It is my prayer that you come to the full awareness that you are already known and loved by the Father. I pray that you walk in this reality and regardless of what happens you’ll be deeply rooted in His love.
God loves you inspite of you
— Mickeygblogs
