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.

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 another 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.

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 – the Big Boss. 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. We need to realize that if He wants to correct some behavior of ours, it is for our own good. It’s not because He is being an ogre. He cares about our future and will guide us into His perfect choices for us provided we let Him. That is the way we are to walk in this life – let go, and let God.

 

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).

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.