“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.”
1 John 3:1 (NIV)
If anyone in scripture had an intimate relationship with the Lord, it was David. He was an imperfect and flawed human being, yet he always found his way back to God’s arms of mercy. He is the best example, that we do not need to be perfect to have an intimate relationship with God. We only need to keep returning to His throne of grace, forgiveness and His arms of mercy.
In the NIV version of the epistle of John, the word “lavished” is used. John and David both knew all about being lavished by God’s love. David wrote in his psalm, calling Him, “my God”and declared His love to be
“better than life.” (Psalm 63:3)
Whatever sickness, grief, or stress that we are faced with, we always have the option to restore ourselves to God’s love that has been lavished on us. Everyone needs reminding of that kind of love, which stands apart from any other.
There is a type of security that comes from friendship with Jesus, which leads us to enjoy seeing others being blessed by Him. A personal relationship with Jesus is more than knowing about Him, or believing in a mysterious divine being. Since we know Him, we want others to know Him as well. I once had a childhood experience that illustrated this for me.
My mother went to work full time when I was about eight years old, since my father was disabled from a stroke a month before I was born. She was a seamstress, who joined the garment workers union and started working in an upscale dress shop, about two miles from our home. Each day, she took a city bus from the corner of our block, to and from work. I used to meet her when she came home, as she got off the bus.
I had a childhood friend named Mary Margaret, who was a few years younger than me, and lived a few doors away. We would play together outside, but the moment my mother came off that city bus, Mary Margaret stopped playing and excitedly ran to greet my mother with a big hug, before I ever reached her.
The first time she did this, I was perplexed and wondered why she was so excited to see my mother, since she had a mother and father of her own. I eventually realized that my mother was the kind of person who showed a lot of love to others, and for some reason, she became the highlight of the day for Mary Margaret, who couldn’t wait to run into her arms.
I was secure in knowing that my mother loved me, so I grew accustomed to Mary Margaret outrunning me to receive my mother’s daily hug. Instead of thinking she was taking over my mom, I felt pride in having the kind of mother who was so special to her as well.
That childhood experience helped me to later understand and adapt to the idea of intimacy with God, through a friendship with Jesus. When we have a personal and intimate relationship with Him, we naturally rejoice when others do as well, even when they outrun us.
I was secure in the love of my mom and later became secure in the love of my God, just as David was. When we are secure in His lavished love for us, friendship with Jesus is like an anchor that keeps us grounded in all the areas of faith and friendship.
David knew that God’s love is better than life, which is why it’s so worthy to be shared.
Lord, help us to know that we are your beloved ones and anchor our faith as you lavish us in your love, throughout our lives. Amen
