The Father’s Love

There’s a saying, which I’ve heard repeated many times, that Jesus has no hands or feet or lips on earth apart from ours, and I understand what is meant; we are called ‘The Body of Christ’ as is explained in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, and we’re all gifted to be a part of that body. It’s important and we do have a part to play.

However, I had a new revelation recently about how God the Father sees us. I had made this year’s batch of marmalade and it was sitting on a tray in my kitchen waiting to be labelled and put away. It was the day when I look after my two and a half year old grand-daughter while her parents are working, so we set about doing it together. I wrote on the labels and then she added a few squiggles and scribbles and then she peeled the label from its backing and stuck it on to the jar for me. Some are stuck a bit too near the lid most are sideways or upside down and have a few wrinkles in them. She was so pleased with herself and I was just filled with delight and love for her. Now every time I see a jar of marmalade my heart fills again with that delight and love. There is a twang of sadness that I would never have allowed that when my own children were small, the labels would have had to be neat and straight.

I realised that this is probably a bit how God sees us. We’re are so pleased with our attempts to help and serve Him, and think He couldn’t manage without us and He just delights and rejoices at our efforts. The idea was confirmed to me when I was reminded of the time when Jesus was on the beach waiting for the disciples to come back from what may have turned out to be a fruitless fishing trip, if he hadn’t rescued it at the last moment. The story is in John 21. When they got back He asked them to bring some of the fish they’d caught, (not by their own efforts but by a miraculous intervention). He didn’t really need it as He already had fish for their breakfast cooking on the barbeque.

We need to be wary of thinking God can’t manage without us. He chooses to include us and use us because it delights Him to do so and it delights us when He does.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You have made us Your children and You delight over us. Please make that real for us today by the revelation of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.