Love is often shown by small things. Hubby washing the dishes when I am tired, or making the bed every day, or buying supper so I get a break from cooking. God is our example. Pink tulips may mean nothing to many, but when I said, “Lord, if I’m to have a wreath of pink tulips for my door, You will need to provide them” — He did. And parking places, directions in small things, help with my chores, so much more.
The same love shows up in many prayers. Once I prayed for expensive ivory carved scrimshaw with audacious words: “Lord, I’d like one and only ask because You love me.” And He gave me two pieces, not just one. Such is the love of God. He shows it off and nothing can change it.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39)That love shows up in what most children would say is not love at all, but because I know He loves me, then I know His rebukes, corrections, discipline chastening and discipline also are acts of love. I didn’t get much of that as a child and actually remember only one time. My mother rebuked me for being a sassy know-it-all at the dinner table. God fills in what she didn’t do. These verses are changed a bit to suit my gender:
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as daughters? “My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every child whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as His child. For what daughter or son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not His children. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:5–13)Healing means being rid of the selfishness that is never satisfied because with healing God gives great contentment and peace. Being out of joint is not fun, always wanting and striving rather than being at rest. It is like Jesus in that He gladly abandoned all that He might do the will of God, and when that was declared finished, He sits on an eternal throne and lovingly desires that I sit there with Him.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4–7)PRAY: Lord, nothing has changed in my world. That to-do list is still long. Many prayers are not yet answered, but in the shift from wanting a vague something to being content, I have that peace that goes beyond comprehension. So thankful. Fill me with Yourself that I might glorify You today.
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