There is no greater love than when someone actually lays down their life for the safety and benefit of their family, friends, community, and country. Of course, Jesus Christ did this for everyone in the whole world, through past and present and future generations from the beginning to the end of time (John 3:16-17, 15:9-17).
He chose us before the foundation of the world, He knows us each by name, He wanted us as His adopted family, and He protects us regardless of the horrid trials we experience (Isaiah 43:1-3; Ephesians 1:5). His plan is to wipe away every tear from our eyes, to vanquish death and sorrow and crying and pain, and to do away with the former things in this carnal world (Revelation 21:4).
God sent Jesus so He would pay the penalty of our sins, and we can flourish through Him (1 John 4:9-10). His love for us is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). He pardons our iniquity, overlooks our human penchant toward the flesh, withholds His anger over our occasional sin, and delights in having mercy toward us as His Spirit gradually matures us spiritually and sanctifies our soul (Micah 7:18).
Our refuge in trouble is in our eternal God, who cradles us in His everlasting arms to protect us from our enemies (Deuteronomy 33:27). His mercy is as high as the heavens, and His faithfulness reaches to the clouds and back again to us. He surrounds us with His righteousness like a mountain range, and His judgment never comes without adequate and merciful warning (Psalm 36:5-6).
We praise Him for His goodness and the wondrous miracles He performs in our life. He satisfies our longing and hungry soul and fills us with His goodness (Psalm 107:8-9). He directs our hearts deeper into His intimate love as we yearn for Jesus’ eminent return for His Bride (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
Prayer:
Father God, we thank You for Your goodness and mercy toward us that endure forever (1 Chronicles 16:34). All You ask is that we walk away from sin, and we willingly come to You to receive Your life for us and allow Your love to fill us (John 5:40-43). We rejoice in Your hope, Your glory, and Your grace. We have patience in our tribulation because Your love covers a multitude of our sin and fills our heart completely (Romans 5:2-4).
You are a constant refuge and strength to us in our troubles. You are present in each moment of our life (Psalm 46:1). Your hope takes the shame out of our past through the sanctifying process of Your Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Thank You for planning a future for us that is filled with peace, and for delivering us from every evil (Jeremiah 29:11). The fullness of Your Agape love sustains us through every generation (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Thoughts for the Day:
Jesus is the light of our world, even in the darkest hour (John 8:12), and He is rich in His glorious mercy on us all by saving us by His grace. His great love made us alive in Christ even when our spirit was dead in sin. Now, He abides in our heart by faith, and we are rooted and grounded in the width, length, depth, and height of His love as He fills us with all the fulness of God.
- Ephesians 2:4-5, 3:16-19
