Foundations Jan 7, 2011

Friday, January 7, 2011
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Hosea 6-10 and Jude

SCRIPTURE READING

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with
all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to
know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the
fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV
 

God enjoys us even when we are in the midst of our immaturity and weakness. Some of us
think “God will enjoy me in heaven, but never while I am on earth”. Others of us admit that
God may enjoy us on earth but only once we are spiritually mature like the apostle Paul.
But the truth is that God actually enjoys us while we are maturing. The knowledge of this is
vital in growing towards spiritual maturity.
We must not however confuse God’s enjoyment of us while we are maturing with
His approval of everything that we do. Jesus enjoys me, while at the same time He
disapproves of the sin in my life. It is not an all or nothing relationship. Some think that
God either approves or disapproves of us but this is not simply incorrect. It would be like
if a parent stopped loving their child when their child broke a rule. We realize how absurd
that is, yet that is often how we view God! We believe that God likes us only when we are
acting holy but as soon as we sin, we think that God stops liking us. We must repent when
we sin and seek restoration with God, but God never stops loving us. He loves all His
children, all the time!

PRAYER and MEDITATION

1. Is the concept of God loving you as you mature new to you?
2. Have you had times when you have struggled believing that God enjoys you? How has
    this affected your personal devotions and your relationship with Him?
3. Do you feel like God stops loving you when you sin?
4. Write a prayer thanking God that He loves you in the midst of your immaturity. Thank
    Him for the restoration that comes when we repent and that He loves all His children, all
    the time!