8.43 The secret to experiencing God's love intensely
Most people know John 3:16. They can quote, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” They know that God loves the whole WORLD but they do not know how to experience God’s love at a personal level. Some people find it hard to love themselves, let alone receive God’s love. What is the secret to experiencing the intensity of God’s love at a personal level?
The apostle John is also known as the Apostle of Love. He was closest to Jesus and his epistles focus on God’s love. He seemed to have known and experienced God’s love more than the other disciples. He was the only disciple at the foot of Jesus when He hung on the cross. Jesus could count on John to take care of His earthly mother.
But Peter had it differently. Unlike John who was conscious of Jesus’ love, Peter boasted of his own love for Jesus (Matt 26:35). In Jesus’ hour of need, Peter denied Him 3 times. Instead of boasting about our love for God like Peter, we need to learn from John how to be conscious of Jesus’ love for us.
We know that God loves everyone equally and does not show favoritism. But why is it that John was able to experience more of God’s love and respond to Jesus? When writing the gospel of John, he referred to himself as, “The disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20). Why did John address himself in this manner?
He personalized Jesus’ love for himself so that he could be conscious of His love at all times. Because he was conscious of God’s love, he was closest to the Lord Jesus among the 12 disciples. He would lean on the bosom of Jesus. When Peter wanted to ask Jesus something, he asked John to ask instead. Peter seemed to have a barrier with Jesus but John didn’t.
Like John, we should also personalize Jesus love for ourselves. When we personalize God’s love, we will experience it afresh. We will experience its intensity at a personal level. Today, you can call yourself “God’s beloved child”.
Try doing this. Let us read John 3:16 in a personalized manner so that you will be conscious of God’s love for you as an individual: “For God so loved [say your name] that He gave His only begotten Son, that I can believe in Him and receive everlasting life.”
Read Gal 2:20: “The Son of God loved [say your name] and gave Himself for me.”
As you personalize Jesus’ love for you, you will receive a fresh experience of His love. Remind yourself of His love every moment of the day until it becomes a part of you. When you are down and depressed, the love of Christ in you will lift you up.
The apostle John is also known as the Apostle of Love. He was closest to Jesus and his epistles focus on God’s love. He seemed to have known and experienced God’s love more than the other disciples. He was the only disciple at the foot of Jesus when He hung on the cross. Jesus could count on John to take care of His earthly mother.
But Peter had it differently. Unlike John who was conscious of Jesus’ love, Peter boasted of his own love for Jesus (Matt 26:35). In Jesus’ hour of need, Peter denied Him 3 times. Instead of boasting about our love for God like Peter, we need to learn from John how to be conscious of Jesus’ love for us.
We know that God loves everyone equally and does not show favoritism. But why is it that John was able to experience more of God’s love and respond to Jesus? When writing the gospel of John, he referred to himself as, “The disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20). Why did John address himself in this manner?
He personalized Jesus’ love for himself so that he could be conscious of His love at all times. Because he was conscious of God’s love, he was closest to the Lord Jesus among the 12 disciples. He would lean on the bosom of Jesus. When Peter wanted to ask Jesus something, he asked John to ask instead. Peter seemed to have a barrier with Jesus but John didn’t.
Like John, we should also personalize Jesus love for ourselves. When we personalize God’s love, we will experience it afresh. We will experience its intensity at a personal level. Today, you can call yourself “God’s beloved child”.
Try doing this. Let us read John 3:16 in a personalized manner so that you will be conscious of God’s love for you as an individual: “For God so loved [say your name] that He gave His only begotten Son, that I can believe in Him and receive everlasting life.”
Read Gal 2:20: “The Son of God loved [say your name] and gave Himself for me.”
As you personalize Jesus’ love for you, you will receive a fresh experience of His love. Remind yourself of His love every moment of the day until it becomes a part of you. When you are down and depressed, the love of Christ in you will lift you up.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 10:48 PM
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