Beginning: God’s Love
In John 15:9 NLT, Jesus says, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.”
Abiding/remaining is primarily about God’s love. There are undoubtedly other things that are required of the believer. We are called to be righteous and holy, do justice, and love mercy. The lists go on and on about how our faith journey plays out, but at the core, it is about remaining in God’s love.
This is not a love that we came up with. There is nothing on our end needed to maintain the integrity of God’s love. He loves, and there’s nothing we can do to change that. However, we can choose to abide in that love or ignore that love.
Receiving the love of God is more challenging than we usually imagine. I perceive that one of the enemy’s greatest goals is to see humanity doubt God’s love for them. If we understood how much God loved us, the world would be radically changed. Your life will be transformed as you learn how much God loves you.
I suppose this is where words fail us, and encounters are necessary to understand God’s love. We can describe it, but one cannot write an eloquent enough description to come close to comparing to your encounter with his glorious love. Paul prays for the Ephesian church to be strengthened to know God’s power and love, saying in Ephesians 3:19 NLT that he longs for them “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
This is my desire for us today. Our instructions are simple: remain. But the outcome will be dynamic and transformational because God loves to meet his people with his presence. However, this is where I have to let loose my control over what happens next. We can spend years cataloging information about who God is, but abiding also involves a risk of vulnerability. Opening up to God and asking him to come and encounter us with his love means that we may not experience anything right away. Still, at some point, we need to take seriously the truth that God is living and active.
Every day we will begin with the scriptures and move toward encounter. I’m inviting you to start pressing in after an encounter with God. Not so that you can have a good feeling or a sensational experience, but so that you may know God’s incomprehensible love and be filled with his power.
So pause this morning. Pray this prayer and keep leaning into Jesus.
God, I am here because I need you. I need to know your love in a fresh way this morning. I confess that I do not know where to begin. Your presence and ways are a mystery to me, but I am learning to trust you. Right now, I ask you to encounter me with your love. Meet me with your glory. Speak your truth to me. I want to know you more. Amen.
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Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
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Our first devotional book is available on our online store! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.
