Lavish Love
by Christel Baxter
Lavish is an incredibly rich word. It means ‘over the top, or more than you could imagine’. The dictionary defines the word, lavish as ‘bestowing something in generous or extravagant quantities on, or bestowing profusely’. This makes our key scripture in 1 John 3:1 so amazing. God is never stingy. He’s a generous God! He lavishes His love upon us – over the top!
Jesus incarnate was the very essence and demonstration of the Father’s love for us. Father God was so determined to reconcile us back to Him, and to call us sons and daughters, that He didn’t spare even His own Son, but sent Him as the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for the sin of mankind. This is lavish, generous love!
No matter how great we are, we don’t naturally deserve to be called sons and daughters of God. None of our achievements here on earth – our academic accolades, our great accomplishments in our jobs, or even the good works we do for others – would merit such a gift. It’s only the free and lavish love of the Father that bestows on us the beautiful title of son or daughter!
Max Lucado in his book ‘Wild Grace’ describes God’s love so beautifully. He says, ‘God doesn’t just love; He lavishes us with love. God dispenses His goodness not with an eyedropper but a fire hydrant. Your heart is a Dixie cup, and His grace is the Mediterranean Sea. You simply can’t contain it all’.
How blessed we are! How loved we are!
Prayer: Father, how privileged we are to be called Your sons and daughters! Thank You for the gift of Your love that You lavish so freely and generously upon us. Amen.
Christel Baxter joined the Associate prayer ministry team at Shere House, S.Africa in 2008 after attending the 20 day school. Besides serving together on the associate team at Shere House, Christel & her husband, Gary, pastor New Life Ministries, a congregation in Boksburg, Gauteng. Their children, Liezl and Wesley, are both married, and they adore their son-in-law and daughter-in-law and their little granddaughter, Hannah! Christel is passionate about seeing broken lives restored and especially loves ministering God`s love and healing to women of all ages.
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