“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Do you know how much your Heavenly Father loves you?
I grew up just outside the Bronx and my family lived in a tiny apartment. My dad lost his vision from complications of juvenile diabetes and struggled with numerous health issues. While my dad was always sick and in the hospital, I remember how he reacted to his circumstance.
As a seven year old, part of my daily responsibilities was to help him with his dialysis bag. Dialysis is a treatment to help the kidneys function properly. As the process commenced, he would clench his tethered red recliner and ask me to read his favorite Bible verses. I would carefully open his heavy leather-bound Bible and stumble through the words as I tried to read, Psalm 23, Psalm 100, and John 3:16.
As soon as I would start, he’d say them out loud with me. His voice shook as tears streamed down his face, but a sense of calm and peace always washed over my dad during the process. He’d say, “No matter what, God is good and He loves us very much Christine. He is a good Father.”
Several years later, my dad passed away.
We marked Father’s Day yesterday. While it can be a day filled with joy, for many, it can be painful. Whether your father has passed away, or maybe, you don’t have a good relationship with your father, Father’s Day can elicit a plethora of emotions.
Do you know how much your Heavenly Father loves you?
As we start out this new week, embrace how much your Heavenly Father loves you. John 3:16 was one of my dad’s favorite verses. It’s an important one. This one verse explains God’s great plan and His immense love for us. He sent His only Son to die as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so we could spend eternity with Him. It is true sacrificial, unconditional love. Cling to God’s love letter, The Bible, to give you strength and comfort.
On earth, you may have had a good, loving father. But maybe you didn’t have a good fatherly example. You may have experienced hurt, abandonment, or loss. It’s important you know that when you accept Jesus into your heart, you’ve been adopted into God’s family and now have every spiritual blessing. You are part of a bigger family and are loved beyond measure by your Heavenly Father.
Prayer: Father, thank you for this new day and week. Help us to draw closer to You and understand how much You love us as our Father. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for all of our sins so we could have eternal life with You. Father, I pray that if someone’s earthly father does not know You, that You would begin to put people in their path that would encourage them and speak the truth in love. We claim their salvation in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
I’m praying for you that God would bless and encourage you today!
– Christine Batchelder