Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 1 John 3:1.
Love is the principle that underlies God’s government in heaven and on earth, and this love must be interwoven in the life of the Christian…. The heart that is influenced by this holy principle will be carried above everything of a selfish nature.
When we seek for appropriate language in which to describe the love of God, we find words too tame, too weak, too far beneath the theme, and we lay down our pen and say, “No, it cannot be described.” We can only do as did the beloved disciple, and say, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1. In attempting any description of this love, we feel that we are as infants lisping their first words. Silently we may adore; for silence in this matter is the only eloquence. This love is past all language to describe.
All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channel of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness which have opened in the souls of men, are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue cannot utter it; pen cannot portray it. You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of the love of God in giving His Son to die for the world. Eternity itself can never fully reveal it. Yet as we study the Bible and meditate upon the life of Christ and the plan of redemption, these great themes will open to our understanding more and more.
The Faith I Live By p. 43
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for A who is having mental issues and whose kids have been taken away. Pray that she gets the help she needs so she can get them back. Anonymous
—–Please pray for J whose abusive husband is trying to get their child at least part of the time. L
—–Please pray for my friend, Kelly, that God will guide in an upcoming matter of great importance. Rose
—–My husband is having a bone marrow biopsy prayers for good results! Linda
—–There is a young mother of two. She has very bad ashma. She has a cold, along with a very bad allergic reaction, having been around cat & dog fur. She also, has a very bad toe infection. Just fighting a lot of serious physical conditions. Please, if you will lift her in prayer. Katherin
——please pray for my possible job interview. Thanks Ann
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Dear Friends,
One day, when Eileen was three, she was happily playing outside. I was standing in the doorway watching her. It was a beautiful spring day. It felt good to have warm weather and it seemed like all was well with my world. Suddenly, a wasp came from out of nowhere, landed on Eileen’s back, immediately stung her, then flew away.
Poor Eileen started to cry. She had not seen the wasp, but she had felt the pain. I was shocked at this wasp’s very strange behavior. It did not have a nest nearby. It was not being threatened, or I would have understood it. That wasp, for whatever reason, decided to sting my daughter. From that moment, Eileen did not like to play outside.
We, too, have an adversary who strikes when we least expect it. Sometimes everything seems to be right with our world, when suddenly, without warning, the evil one “stings” us. We are shocked. We are dismayed. We don’t know what to do. Our world has fallen apart. There seems to be nowhere to turn. We feel like David when he exclaimed, “Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.” Ps 55:5
Praise God, there is Someone Who can drive away the evil one! We have Someone Who loves us so much that He was willing to leave the glories of Heaven and come to this small and corrupt planet to live a perfect life and die on the cross that we might be saved. What love! What sacrifice! He bids us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt 11:28 How Jesus longs to have us confide in Him. How He yearns for us to come to Him with all of our burdens, all of our trials, all of our cares. “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 He, alone, offers us a place of safety from all the stings of the wicked one. In the very next verse, we are counseled, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8 When we feel the wasp-sting of the evil one, we can cast our cares upon the Saviour Who loves us and He will take the pain away. We can flee into His loving arms and He will comfort us when our world falls apart. He will hedge us about with holy angels and protect us in trouble.
May we come to our Loving Saviour today. May we keep so close to Him that the stings of the enemy cannot shake us. May we be continually surrounded by His protecting angels is my prayer.
Rose