Daily Bread: The Abundant Love & Grace of God

God's abundant grace and love, looks like a plan the Lord meticulously laid out for us before the beginning of time. In Eph. 2:4 the Lord says that He loved us before we were saved,  even before we were created.

"..God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions..."
Ephesians 2:3a

The unique thing about God is not only do we hear of His grace, mercy, and love: but we see it. We see God's passionate love for in the act of giving His Son as the ultimate sacrifice. He gave His most precious treasure up, so that we could see ,the most revealing glimpse, of the depth of His love.

This reminds me of Trevor Fancis' hymn "Oh the Deep Deep Love of Jesus" written in 1875.

"O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!"

This reminds me of these verses..

"..whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also He also justifies; and these whom He justified, He also glorifies."
Romans 8:30

He thought of us, chose us, created us, and calls us to Himself and His love.

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor, powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39

This was always a tough lesson for me. The idea that nothing could separate me from the love of God. When I look back, shuffling through the files in my memory of my past, I remember wondering how God loved me amidst my sin. I sat on the bank of life and instead of chasing fireflies, I sat swinging my leg over dark waters, teasing the darkness by dipping my toes in every now and then. I enjoyed playing with it, was actually excited by the adrenaline of "taking risks". What I toyed with was destruction and death. I would never have been able to comprehend that then. Even now after being made new, I ask myself "Am I inviting the darkness by saying this, or doing that?" It's surprising to see how easily and most times unconsciously we are influenced. This is why we need Christ, and need to hold His word, commandments, and truths in our hearts...Now when I look back I am so in awe of God's patience with me. I was so stubborn, thinking "Why does God want control of my life?". I admit, sadly, that I was uncomfortable with obedience. But what rebel youth hasn't at once felt the surge of angst? This is about the time where the Lord "left" me on my own. He sometimes allows these feelings of solitude, sometimes it's difficult situations, or the disappointments of circumstances not being fulfilled that lead us to desperation. This is so that we we come to the point where all we can do is cry out "I can't do this!". He says, suddenly revealing His presence, "Good....let my Son do it through you."See He wants control in our lives so that we can see the true Life He offers. Eternal life is Life that penetrates every area of our lives. This is yet again the grace and love God offers. This Life is one that has purpose, that gives us a chance to know our Maker on a one on One basis. On top of that He offers a love, so unfathomable that it will take our entire lifetimes to comprehend just a small part of His love. Because His love is unceasing, merciful, forgiving, lavish, passionate, righteously jealous, understanding, fiery, intimate, gentle and Holy...but it doesn't end there, it goes on and on. It cannot be measured, it's boundless and free (for some reason when I here the words boundless and free I think of stallions stampeading/running in the wild or eagles soaring through the sky)...

When trials and temptation arises I think on what my dad once said, "God wants to stretch our capabilities so that God can, through us, use His abilities." This reminds me of what a dear Armenian brother said, "When God asks you to bend, bend. He's making you more flexible.". God through us loves others, comforts, encourages, advises, rejoices, praises, questions, and inspires etc. Because we're not the focus, He is. he literally lives through us. Our lives become all about His work, His life, His personality, His goals, His desires, His hopes, and aspirations. He wants to be Himself through you. Because you are not only a tool/vessel, but a work of art. He will work on you for the rest of your life. No one said this journey would be easy. But He wants to display His glory, His splendor, His power through you, so others can see Him too. He wants to fill us to overflowing, so others see His greatness. He wants to glow, emote, radiate, emanate and seep through every area of our lives...He wants you. He offers this relationship that is so dynamic. It's one between a Creator and His work, Father and child, Companion and friend, Lover and beloved and so many other kinds as well! He is multifaceted and wants you to know Him, to be interested in Him. He offers us Himself, His gave His Son to die, though sinless, so that us sinners would come to Him repent, die to self, give our lives to Him and fall in love with Him so that we could have Eternal Life and abundantly more than we could ever think or imagine. 

His abundant grace makes known His unconditional love. It such a comfort to know that He will make our paths straight if we surrender and receive this free offer. Dying to the old, being made knew, being saved from death, given eternal life, and being proposed a life of faithfulness, love, joy, holy passion, service, devotion, vitality, peace, contentment, everlasting lovingkindness and much more. Why would we pass this up? And for those who have this, why have we not sought these things from God on a daily basis? If we ask, in His name, He will provide.

His unfathomable love always leaves me in awe. Praise be to God, the Maker or heaven and earth!

"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."
2 Chronicles 16:9a

"There is none like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to your help, and through the skies in His majesty."
Deuteronomy 33:26