The Least of These预览

You are loved by the One who created all things!

Let’s review Day 9 and the thought we parted within that text; do you really believe that you are valued, treasured, and loved by God?

Let us take another look at Romans 8:31-36,

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one.

Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Wow! Take a breath and read the verses above again. To realize that Jesus Christ was mistreated in every way we can be, yet in the power of the Holy Spirit, He just kept loving and serving and finally paying the price for our sins so that we could spend eternity with Him...How can we not be in awe?!! He deserves our trust and every molecule of love and adoration we can muster.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2

Where is the gardener when the branches are suffering in being pruned? He is surrounding that branch with His capable hands, holding it, breathing over it, and examining it so that He can save it for great things. He is with you always, and you are safe in His hands!

Jesus prayed for us the night before He was betrayed, asking the Father to bring us who love Him to the place where He will be. John 17:24,

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

If we abide in Him, we have His eternal promise that He gave to His people in Deuteronomy 31:6,

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

You are loved, the Father’s eyes are on you, He will never leave you, He goes with you everywhere you go to give you strength. With this assurance, we can live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. We can stand firm in His promises regardless of any disability we might have.

Reflection: The uncreated Creator of the universe loves us unconditionally and never takes His eyes off us – and when we finally begin to grasp that, just watch how our life will change!

Thank you for reading our plan. We hope that it has given you some new things to think about regarding how much the Father loves you. Please join us in one of our courses about following Jesus, and we invite you to sign up for our daily devotionals, too.