Loved by God

John 3:16-21
1 John 4:7-19
Psalm 86:10-17

This last Christmas, I spent a lot of time talking about the meaning of the holiday with my three girls. They learned all about John the Baptist (actually, they call him John the Bathroom, please don’t ask me why because I really have no idea!) and his miraculous birth. They learned about the angel, Gabriel, telling Mary about her impending pregnancy. They sang Happy Birthday to Jesus over and over again, and I really think they grasped the holiness of that precious day as much three toddlers under three can.

But for me, Christmas continues to become more intimate and cherished as my relationship with Jesus deepens. Throughout the entire season, I kept reflecting on the fact that God gave His one and only Son, first as a baby into this human world, and then to death.

I’ve heard my dad preach quite a few messages, but the one forever imprinted on my heart is titled, “It’s Christmas, but Easter’s coming”. He taught about the importance of celebrating Jesus’ birth, but the reason His birth is so incredible is because just 33 years later, God gave that same baby over to death. Then showed His infinite power by bringing Him back to life three days later.

Sisters, if you ever question your value…
If you ever doubt how loved you are by God…
Stop and remember this:
God, the Creator of the world, became what He created (human), for you.
Though He was flawless, wholly perfect, and innocent of all wrong, He took the punishment of sin, which is death, upon Himself because He loves you.

God stopped at nothing, not even death, to bring us salvation.
Nothing would separate us from His love.
Nothing would stop Him from extending the opportunity for eternal life to all of us.

If you don’t know me, I’m a sing-songy person.
I have a song for every moment.
You want a song about brushing teeth?
I’ve got a few to offer.
How about a song about driving in the car or studying for a test?
I’ve got songs for those, too.
Songs about God giving His Son for you and I?
Hundreds.
But as I prayed over, studied for, and thought about this Journey Study for the last eight weeks, only one song kept coming to mind: “How Great Thou Art”.

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

Pause. Right there.

When we stop to think about the fact that God stopped at nothing for us, I think the magnitude of that thought should cause our breaths to catch a bit.
Maybe your heart beats a little faster?
Maybe not yet?

Then, stop and think of this:
Are you a mama or an auntie?
Is there a precious little one in your life?

Imagine taking your sweet little one into your arms. Set them on your lap and wrap your arms around them. Feel their soft, squishy cheeks against yours; feel their sticky little fingers in your hand. Sense the weight of them leaning against you; breath in the smell of their hair. Focus on the depth of love you have for this wee one and the great life you know they are capable of leading. Think of the incredible moments you’ve had with them, the moments making your heart swell with pride or tender delight. The moments that marked the preciousness of your relationship together.

Now, imagine that child on their deathbed. Imagine them lying in a hospital bed, barely breathing, their skin pale and their face expressionless. Don’t stay here long, but stop and realize the pain you’re feeling. Notice how you’re sick to your stomach and your heart literally hurts. Maybe your breathing grows heavier or your eyes begin to sting.
Maybe you don’t have to imagine this pain at all, because you’ve lived it.
Imagine you could stop this child from experiencing any pain, sickness, or rejection if you wanted to, but you choose not to.
Hold onto the weight of that feeling and linger there.

Now we’ve glimpsed, ever so slightly, the heart of Father God.
We’ve caught a taste of the pain He felt watching Jesus suffer on earth. When Jesus had a stomach bug or a horrible cold, when He was teased by fellow playmates as a child, and rejected by His own hometown, His own people (Luke 4:16-30) as an adult. Father God watched and ached as Jesus was betrayed by one of His best friends (Luke 22:47-53), beaten so severely He didn’t even look human, denied by another best friend as He walked through the valley of death (Mark 14:66-72), and then nailed to a cross to slowly suffocate and die.
The pain He experienced as a Father is incomprehensible.

But God still gave His one and only Son.

God knew the pain He would experience as Father.
He knew the pain His Son would experience as the agony of sin pressed upon Him.
But that didn’t hold Him back.
Nothing, neither the pain in His own Father heart nor the pain Jesus, as God the Son, would experience, was going to stop the triune godhead from demonstrating His great love for the world or executing His master plan of redemption.

That’s how important you are.
That’s how loved you are.

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died, to take away my sins

Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Sisters?
Easter is coming!

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