“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
1 John 4:10
Years ago I read Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God. The most memorable part about it for me was realizing that my heavenly Father pursues me with His love and grace. As I worked my way through those lessons, I came to see that every desire I ever have to open His Word is His Spirit drawing me to Himself. Every thought about Him, every verse that pops into my head—it all originates with Him. A hymn I grew up singing puts it beautifully: “I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew/ He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me./ It was not I that found, O Savior, true./ No, I was found of Thee” (Jean Ingelow, 1878).
In the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, we read that even when the lost son is still far off, his father runs to him. Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
I am so grateful for how my Father has run in pursuit of me over the years, despite my failures. You too can praise Him for being the God who runs after you, the God who first loved you.
In the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, we read that even when the lost son is still far off, his father runs to him. Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
I am so grateful for how my Father has run in pursuit of me over the years, despite my failures. You too can praise Him for being the God who runs after you, the God who first loved you.
Scripture Focus
1 John 4:16-19
Insight
“I saw Him run to me,/ He took me in his arms,/ held my head to his chest and said,/ ‘My son’s come home again.’” (Benny Hester, 1988)
Bible In A Year
- 2 Chronicles 11-12
- Psalm 13
- Matthew 19-20
