9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

The love of a father can be a lifelong memory. As a boy growing up, I felt the love my father had for me. He demonstrated his love through helping me when I needed it, making sure I was doing right by others, and just spending time with me when he was able. I always enjoyed our times together when he was fixing something, whether it was in the house, outside, or one of our cars. Those acts of love from my dad were memorable and I’ll never forget them. I’m guilty of random smiles and teary eyes as they cross my mind. Believe it or not, I still abide in that love, I still live within it. It’s with me all the time.

The love the Father has for Jesus is this and so much more. We know that the Father loves his Son by what he says about him. In Matthew 3:17, after John baptizes Jesus, God declares his love, affection, and trust in his own son. Again, during the transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-8 while Peter is talking, God interrupts him to repeat this declaration about Jesus. This love that God has for his own son is the love that Jesus lavished on his disciples and us.

Just as I recall my those times with my dad, when we remember the love God has for us, we begin to understand just how deeply we’re loved and known. The deep, abiding love of our Father in Heaven is brought to light by being his children. Being his children. This is something to consider and think about all the time. It will help us in our day-to-day activities and interactions with people. As you give thought to this abiding love the Father has for you, consider what love requires of you today towards your family or friends.

1 John 3:1: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”

By Rich Obrecht  

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