1 John 4:12-15
For though we have never yet seen
God, when we love each other God lives in us, and his love within us
grows ever stronger. And he has put his own Holy Spirit into our hearts
as a proof to us that we are living with him and he with us. And
furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now tell all the world
that God sent his Son to be their Savior. Anyone who believes and says
that Jesus is the Son of God has God living in him, and he is living
with God.
The Living Bible
copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
When my niece, Jasmine, was expecting
Timothy, our excitement and anticipation grew with every month of her
pregnancy. We loved that baby before he was ever born! But as he grew
and we spent time him, that love grew exponentially. And despite our
declarations that we would not become so attached to the subsequent
babies, we couldn’t help ourselves. These children have our hearts!
With
no disrespect intended for our own nieces, nephews, and little
cousins…I never fully understood this deep and profound love until these
three children came into our lives. I can only surmise that God has
used these precious little ones to give us a firsthand glimpse at how
much He loves us. I believe it is no accident that as I look at the
world through this new “lens,” my views have changed dramatically.
When
I see a human tragedy unfold on the news, I put myself in the shoes of
the parents. Their child is our little one. The son who went to war
and didn’t return is our Timothy or Nathan. The daughter who is
abducted is our Zola. The child who took his/her own life because of
bullying is ours. The person who is called ugly names and spoken of
with hate and disdain is our own child…and the pain of it is profound. I
look at militant terrorists and think, “This was once a child loved by a
mother just as much as we love our little ones.” Or I will remind myself, “This person used to be an innocent child who played, laughed and sang just like ours.”
I
am constantly reminded that we were all once precious, innocent
children…and that as our Heavenly Father, this is how God sees us. I’ve
been substitute teaching in the pre-K Sunday school class for about a
month now, and as I look at those little 3, 4 and 5-year-olds, I see
tiny vessels that God wants to fill with His Holy Spirit. I see “open
books” that God wants to fill with the hope and promise of His holy
word…disciples in the making…hearts waiting to be filled with His
abundant love.
Just because we are “grownups” doesn’t mean that
God doesn’t still see us as His little ones. He wants to fill us with
His love…and to see that love grow exponentially as we share it with
others. Wherever we are in our “faith walk,” we can go further.
Whatever we think we know about God, we can learn more. However strong
our relationship with God seems today, it can be stronger. As much
empathy and concern as we may think we have for our fellow man, we can
cultivate more. These are the things that God desires for us…that we
continually strive to go deeper in our efforts to live with Him – and to
make room for Him to live within us.
As you look around today,
think about others (yes, ALL of them!) with this “God lens.” Consider
each and every person as God’s precious little one…and include yourself.
See how this changes your relationship with Him – and with the rest of
the world. Make a point to really LIVE with God…and to share Him with
others. If we will allow God to fill our hearts with His love and
power, the results might just amaze us. It’s certainly worth a
shot…isn’t it?!
©2016 Debbie Robus
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