We love, because He first loved us.

 He first loved us:

 

1 John 4:19

19     We love, because He first loved us.

     

            Of course, we can have human love without Him. But to have the kind of love He has … the kind that would lay down His life for us - that kind of love could only come because He first loved us. Most of the time, we love someone because there is a mutual feeling between us. Our love for someone can grow cold. Sometimes when the ones we love do us wrong, we turn our backs on them. He loved us before we even knew Him. He loved us even though He knew that we would do things that were wrong. That doesn’t mean that He doesn’t expect us to do the right things … just that He loves us anyway.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "When My love fills your heart, it will overflow to others. You will want to show your love towards them in the same way that I show My love towards you. You cannot help but feel this love for others. It is a part of Me, and now it is a part of you.”

 

            20. I can love others because God first loved me.

For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

 Love of the Father:

 

            Nothing will separate us:

 

John 16:27

27     for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

     

Romans 8:38-39

     38     For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

     39     nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

            Because we loved Jesus, the Father loves us, and there is nothing in Heaven or on earth that can separate us from that love. That is what true love means. With man, there is always the possibility that something could happen to cause us to doubt or even lose the love a human has for us. Just look at all the divorces in this country. But there is nothing whatsoever that can remove us from His all encompassing love.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My love for you is so great that nothing in Heaven or on earth can separate you from it. My love will be with you for all eternity. My love will comfort you in the time of grief. My love will strengthen you in time of weakness. My love will guide you through paths of darkness. My love will always be.”

 

            19. The Father loves me, and nothing will separate me from His love.

And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

 God’s sons and daughters:

 

2 Corinthians 6:18

18     “And I will be a father to you,

And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”

Says the Lord Almighty.

 

            This is another verse that confirms that He wants to be a Father to us. He doesn’t just want to be our God. Being a Father is means much more than that. He cares about our past and wants to heal any wounds that we may have. He cares about our present and wants us to have what is best for us. He cares about our future and will guide us into His perfect choice for us if we let Him.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I could have chosen to make you My servant, but that is not what I desired. I wanted a child to love and be loved by. You are special to Me. Everyone who comes unto Me is a special treasure waiting to be opened and enjoyed by all.”

 

            18. He is my Father, and I am His (son/daughter).

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

 Become His child:

 

John 1:12

12     But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

     

            When we believed in the name of Jesus as our Savior, and received Him into our lives, we were given the right to become God’s child. Just like the verse prior to this one, we are told that God is our Father. He didn’t choose us to become His servants … He chose us to become His children. Yes, we still need to obey Him, but as a child obeys his parents not as a slave his master.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "When you received My Son into your life, you became My child. I delighted to have you as Mine. It was not a burdensome chore; it was a special pleasure to have you as My child.”

 

            17. I have received Jesus, and so I was given the right to become a child of God.

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

 We are Sons and Daughters:

 

            Predestined to adoption:

 

Ephesians 1:5-6

5     He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

     6     to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

     

            Just like I said before, we could have a big discussion over what this means by being predestined. God decided before time began that we, the ones who would believe on Jesus Christ as our Savior, would most certainly become His adopted sons and daughters. It was His will … He wanted it to happen. It is not something that we earn. He chose us. For some of us, our parents may not have chosen us. In fact, for some of us we were not even wanted at all and were told so. Today too many times we read or hear in the news about the horrible way children are treated because they did something that any child would do in that situation. It’s not that way with God. He knew how you would behave. He knew your personality. He knew how you would fail at times. He still loved you enough to choose you and to draw you to Himself.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have desired to have communion with you from before the beginning of time. I set things in motion that would bring you unto Me. You could not refuse it because your desire was to be Mine. Your heart longed to be with Me, and I provided the way to make it a reality. There was no turning back. Once it was set into motion, it was a certainty.”

 

            16. Before the beginning of time, God said my destiny was to become His adopted child.

That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

 Personal relationship with the Father:

 

            Fellowship with Father and Son:

 

John 17:21

21     that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

 

John 14:23

23     Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

     

1 John 1:3

3     what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

     

            We have the God of the universe and His Son abiding in us! It’s not just a casual acquaintance, but them actually living inside of us. How totally amazing is that? We can have fellowship with them just like they have fellowship with each other. We can talk with them and even at times sense their presence and their love. The earthly fathers of some of us failed miserably, and we wouldn’t want to have a relationship like that with God. But that is exactly how some people see their relationship with Him. They cannot conceive of a loving, caring Heavenly Father. He is all that and more. He made his home inside you … make Him welcome in it.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My child I have greatly desired to have fellowship with you. That is why I called you unto Me. I drew you unto Me that we might be one … you, My Son, and Myself. When we have fellowship with each other, people will know that there is something different about you. They will want what you have and will come to you seeking the answer to the void that is inside them. They desire to have fellowship with God. They do not know how to obtain it, and you will show them the way. As you keep My Word, they will know that what you have is real and will want to know how to obtain it.”

 

            15. The Father and the Son are in me, and I have fellowship with them.

All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him

 Know the Father:

 

Luke 10:22 (NASB95)

22     “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

     

            This says that we will know who the Father is. Isn’t that breathtaking? In Jesus’ day, people didn’t know God. They were afraid of Him. They reverenced Him. But they did not know Him. They didn’t realize that you could know God. This knowing comes because Jesus chooses to reveal Him to us. We will know Him in an intimate, loving relationship … not just as God of the universe. This concept was totally alien to the people living under the Law.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You could not know Me unless I had wanted you to know Me. I want you to know Me and My Son. I want you to fellowship with us daily wherever you go. I will reveal Myself to you as you wait upon Me. I will also show you the Son in a way you’ve never known.”

 

            14. The Father has been revealed to me by the Son, and I know the Father.