On this Mother’s Day weekend, I’m especially grateful for the two most important Moms in my life: my mother, Theresa – she gave birth to me, and put up with eight rascals (and still is in her right mind, amazing!), and the mother of my two kids, and wife-extraordinaire, Darcy. Their faithful and undying love is second only to the love of God.
Yes, God loves us. But you already knew that, right? We sing about it, tell each other about it, and even quote well known verses about how He loves us and the world. The love of God is foundational to our faith because it explains why His only Son, Jesus, died for us and motivates us to demonstrate His love to those around us. The two greatest commandments are about loving God and loving others. Clearly, we are saturated in the love of God.
But are we? Too many of His children are more convinced of His love for others than of His love for them personally. They can say “God loves you” to any hurting, broken person, but when they’re hurting and broken, they wonder why they feel so abandoned by Him. Many of them hear an internal voice that says, “Yes, but. . .” after every declaration of His love. “Yes, but He has to. That’s His job description. God loves everyone.” Or “Yes, He may love me, but I don’t think He likes me very much.” As much as they declare God’s love, too many people are insecure in it.
Insecurity with God shows up in a lot of ways. Perhaps we don’t want to bother Him with the “small things.” Or maybe we think our desires don ‘t matter to Him. Maybe we ask for a hundred confirmations when we think we might have possibly heard His voice – because we just can’t believe He might be speaking to us. Whatever the manifestation, the insecurity is real. And we have to learn to get over it.
“See what great love The Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1)
Sensing God’s love – fully accepting it, breathing it, swimming in it – is foundational to God’s Kingdom. Why? Because it’s the truest expression of His nature. He lavishes love on those who come to Him. His children are precious to Him. If we live as Kingdom citizens, royal heirs, children of The Most High, we have to live not from a place of fear or insecurity but from full confidence of His delight in us. You aren’t worthy of it, you say? Of course, you aren’t. No one is. That’s why it is called and is Good News. Yes, He loves us anyway. Let’s believe it, accept it, and our faith will swell. And That Changes Everything. Everything? Yes, everything, in every way.
Have a lovely weekend. Celebrate the “Moms” in your life. And as you rejoice over, honor, and remember them, don’t forget to worship the Author of Love. He is always thinking of you. He will never forget you, leave you, nor forsake you. He never has.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)
Vic Alvarado 