A few weeks ago someone asked me to sum up my entire life in one word. A writing prompt like that makes two hundred words seem like an ocean. I had to think about it for a bit, but in the end I would describe define myself with the word ‘loved.’
Brennan Manning says that the question at the core of our spiritual development is ‘do you really accept the message that God is head over heels in love with you?’(Ragamuffin Gospel, p159). I’ve been walking with the Lord for around ten years now. If there is one lesson I would like to have learned well, it is that anything meaningful we will do in this life begins with an appreciation of His love.
I love how Jesus’ earthly ministry begins with His baptism. God dishes out approval and blessing before Jesus had done a single miracle, told off a single Pharisee, or gone to the cross. God’s overwhelming love for the Son is completely dependent on their biological link and not on Christ’s performance. And Paul says ‘See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are’ (1 John 3:1). God’s undeserved yet deeply felt love for me hinges entirely on my sonship made possible by Jesus. I have God’s stamp of love on my life and I cannot fail.
I could talk about how I love camping, hiking, and snowboarding. I could drop the names of my favorite bands and authors or throw in a few quotes from my favorite movies. But in the end those things only let you know what I am externally. Who I am as a person is defined by my understanding of God’s love.
A prayer for spiritual growth
When I think about all this
I fall to my knees and pray to the Father
The creator of everything on heaven and earth
I pray
That from his glorious unlimited resources
He will empower you with inner strength
Through His Spirit
Then Christ will make His home in your hearts
As you trust in Him
Your roots will grow down
Into God’s love
And keep you strong
And may you have the power to understand
As all God’s people should
How wide, how long
How high and how deep His love is
May you experience the love of Christ
Though it is too great to understand fully
Then you will be made complete
With all the fullness of life and power
That comes from God
Now all glory to God
Who is able
Through His mighty power
At work within us
To accomplish
Infinitely more than we might ask or think
Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus
Through all generations forever and ever
Amen!
