Embraced by the Father: The Astonishing Reality of God's Love
Comparing God's Love for Jesus and His Followers
God loves every believer just like He loves Jesus. Can you imagine such a truth?
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:23
I was recently at my Aunt’s funeral, and my cousin shared this verse and truth. I had to come home and dig deeper. I knew his statement was true but hadn’t meditated on it enough.
God loves us. We all know that. But how much does He love us? Does He like us? Could He love us just like He loves His Son? How does He express His love for Jesus, His Son? His love for us is not just a general, distant affection. It’s personal, it’s intimate, and it’s as deep as His love for His Son. God values and cherishes us.
Notice John 17:23 says that He has loved us as He has loved Jesus. I have checked everything I can, and the verse is clear. He loves us like He loves Jesus.
How does the Father Love the Son?
The Father loved the Son before the foundation of the world. John 17:24.
God called Him His beloved Son and stated that He was well pleased with Jesus, the Son. Matthew 3:17.
He showed his love by trusting Jesus with all authority and power. Matthew 28:18.
The Father loved the Son, giving all things into His hands. John 3:35.
The Father and the Son are One, an unbreakable unity. John 10:30.
The Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father. John 10:38.
The Father shows the Son all the things that He is doing. John 5:20.
How does the Father love believers?
He has granted us an incredible intimacy, allowing us to call Him Abba or Daddy. Romans 8:15.
He has called us His children. I John 3:1.
He is concerned about the most minor details in our lives. Matthew 6:26-32.
He promises us security where no one can snatch us from His hands. John 10:29.
Christ accepts us (Ephesians 1:6).
We have intimate access to the Father through Christ. Ephesians 2:18.
He is transforming us into the image of Christ. II Corinthians 3:18.
Quotes
God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.
Martin Luther
God loves us; not because we are loveable but because he is love; not because he needs to receive but because he delights to give. C. S. Lewis
God is love. This means more than ‘God is loving’ or that God sometimes loves. It means that he loves, not because he finds objects worthy of his love, but because it is his nature to love. His love for us depends not on what we are, but on what he is. He loves us because he is that kind of God, because he is love. Leon Lamb Morris
You aren’t loved because you’re valuable. You’re valuable because God loves you. Unknown
That’s why you don’t fall apart—because God made you, God loves you and God keeps you. What God made, God loves, because it’s inconceivable that God should make anything that He didn’t love. A. W. Tozer