“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Heavenly Father, I share John’s wonder at this astounding truth: that you,

the Holy God,

the Righteous One,

the Just Judge,

the Creator King,

would take your enemies—

evil,

depraved,

ugly,

stubborn,

rebellious a

nd destructive as they are—

and transform them into new creatures, adopting them as your children!

What a turn-around: to bring your adversary into the palace and place him into your family!

This Agape love of yours is astounding.

In one way it is a brutal love,

brutal to you the Lover,

who gives and gives,

unswayed by the lack of positive response

from the rebellious, self-centered, unbelieving, negative objects of your love--us.

This love, so painful to you as you are grieved daily by our rebellion,

is so gracious to us:

caring,

kind,

forgiving,

correcting,

guiding,

rebuking,

nurturing,

providing,

directing,

cherishing.

Picture: "And that is what we are!”