When I was first saved, I realized that I did not really understand the love of a Father, and so I did not yet begin to appreciate how much God loved me. It is not that my father did not try, but in his broken reality, he could not love like he was supposed to. And I continue to pray that one day he will come to know the true love of the Father.

It was when my pastor did a sermon on this that I began to deeply appreciate that I did not understand how much God really loved me. He knew me so intimately, and He chose to love every part of me unconditionally even though I am so broken. He picked me up and fixed every tiny crack in me, and today I am walking around knowing that I am loved by the God who created the universe. He has made me worthy of that love. I pray that this study ministers to you as a reminder or as a realization of the Love of the Father.

God Created Us In His Image

God created many creatures, but when He created man, the Bible says that He created man in the image of Himself (Genesis 1:27). He loves us so much that He made us in His image, and we are called the sons of God (1 John 3:1; John 1:12-13). He is the creator of the heavens and the earth. He is the creator of everything. The Bible tells us that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). And this same God has made us in His image. We are supposed to represent Him on the earth. We are supposed to be light for those who do not know God. The original intent for us was to rule the earth, be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). We are supposed to be like Him on the earth. Now that we are living in a fallen existence, we are to seek to be like Jesus and help bring people back to God. We are already made in His image, so let us strive to follow Jesus so that we can move from this worldly existence to be just like our Father.  

God Knows Every Part of Us

The Lord has searched and known me. He knows my every move; he understands my thoughts from afar. He is acquainted with all my ways (Psalm 139:1-3). God knew each one of us before He formed us in the womb (Jeremiah 1:4-5). Even when we were made in secret in the womb, we were known to God (Psalm 139:15-16). God predestined us according to His purpose. He knew who we would be long before He even created any of us (Ephesians 1:11-12). And knowing every single part of us, what we would do and what we would think, He still chooses to love us, to save us and to make room for us in His house (John 14:1-31).

We are valuable to God

Not one bird can fall to the ground without God knowing it. He cares for them, and we are even more valuable than the birds. Every strand of hair on our head is numbered.  (Matthew 10:29-31). We are so valuable to Him that He dwells in us. The Bible tells us that God is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and He shall be their God (Revelations 21:3).

When we are reconciled back to God, there is more joy in Heaven than there is for ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:7). The parable of the man and his two sons shows us this love. The son takes his inheritance early and leaves his father and squanders it all away. When he returns, the father joyfully accepts him back and throws a celebration for him. (Luke 15:11-24). God loves us so much that He is ready to forgive all our sins and take us back as His own. He rejoices over us and loves us, never mentioning our past sins. He will rejoice over us with shouts of joy (Zephaniah 3:17). He said He would rejoice over His people to do good unto them and plant them in the promised land with His whole heart and soul (Jeremiah 32:41). This really gives us an image of how much God rejoices because of us. Can you imagine Him rejoicing and realize how much He loves you?

He Takes Care of Us

Jesus reminds us that if we, who are evil, can give our children good gifts, then how much more will the Father give us what is good (Matthew 7:11). Jesus said to take no thought to what we shall eat, drink or wear because our Father knows the needs we have. He said to seek first the kingdom of Heaven, and all these shall come (Matthew 6:31-33). The Bible tells us they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing (Psalm 34:10). The Lord feeds His flock like a shepherd, He gathers the lambs with His arms and carries them in His bosom, and He gently leads those that are with young (Isaiah 40:11). He loves us so much that He fights for us. The Bible tells us that if God is for us who can be against us (Romans 8:31). It says that God did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us, and so how will He not graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).

Proof of God’s Love

John testifies of this love that God has for us. John says that they (the other disciples) have come to know and believe the love which God has for them (1 John 4:16). He said that they have come to understand the depth of His love, that He would willingly lay down His life for us (John 3:16). He said that love is not that we loved God but that He loves us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (atonement, punishment) for our sins. He has wiped away our sins. He made a plan for His Son to give his life for us to be redeemed. He chose not to implicate our trespasses against us and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Reconciliation is about how much He loves us also. He loves us so much that He wants every last one of us to be reunited back to Himself. He wants us. He wants us. He wants us.

The Lord said that He loves us with an everlasting love, and with loving-kindness, He has drawn us and continue to be faithful to us (Jeremiah 31:3). The Lord said that he will make an everlasting covenant with His people, that He will not turn away from them, that He will do good unto them and He will put His fear in their hearts that they will not depart from Him (Jeremiah 32:40). We are His people, those of us who have accepted the gift of Christ that has brought us back to the Father. Therefore, we belong to God, and this too is our covenant. But God does not force Himself on us, and we must surrender to Him to be a part of this. He said if His people obey His voice and keep His covenant, then they will be a special possession and treasure from among all people (Exodus 19:5). We too have this privilege once we obey His voice and walk according to His ways. But, remember, His love is still unconditional, and we do not have to do anything to have it. He already loves us.

He is Always Here for Us

He is not far from us, for, in Him, we live and move. We are His offspring (Acts 17:27-28). Jesus said we do not have to be worried about our needs. All we have to do is to seek first the kingdom of Heaven, and all our needs shall be provided. (Matthew 6:31-33). The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift is from above and comes from the Father, who is perfect and never changing (James 1:17). The Lord said that He has plans for peace and wellbeing for us and not for evil. He wants to give us a future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). The author in Psalm 139 reminds us that God’s thoughts unto us are so precious, and great is the sum of them. They are more in number than the sand. He is with us always, in wake and sleep (Psalm 139:17-18).

The Lord said that when we call unto Him, he will answer and show us great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33:3). He said to ask and keep on asking, and it will be given. He said to knock and be persistent, and the door will be open to us (Matthew 7:7-8). If we seek the Lord with all our heart and soul, we will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29). If we delight in the Lord, he shall give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4).

He is our comforter and counsel in times of trouble (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4). We also have a hope after this life when He returns for us. He shall wipe away all our tears, and there shall be no more pain, and all former things shall be passed away (Revelations 21:4).

The Lord is our God in our midst. He is with us in everything. He is a warrior who saves. We are so privileged that even when we have nothing on this earth, we have a Father, who is master of all, who created it all and who loves us so much. And if we have nothing else but the Father’s love, we have it all. A Father who will never leave us, for His presence is always with us.  He is there when we have joy and when we are in deep pain. He is there healing us and covering us from the enemy. What love is this? A love we do not deserve.

So, know today that He loves you with an endless and unconditional love.  

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).

Dedication

This one is dedicated to Pastor Marlon Alvarez, who taught me this wonderful lesson about the Father’s Love and demonstrated this love to so many. He has inspired and taught me to much. Thank you from a grateful heart. Kyle and I love and appreciate you dearly.

And thanks Chelsea for inspiring me to write this one.

All photos were taken by Kyle or Vani. These photos are from the many adventures we have been blessed to experience together. We are so grateful for every blessing from God. No filters were used nor were the photos edited except for an occasional crop. We hope you enjoy.