Lavish Love: True Love or Counterfeit? Part 2

Lavish. My boys tend to go overboard when buying gifts for their sweethearts. We advise them to start small and work up as the relationship progresses. Frugal to a fault, that’s their dad and I. They ignore us and spend freely.

God seems to favor their approach.

This month, we’re exploring both John 15:12 NIV, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” and the question: How does God love us? Scripture says:

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3: 1a,b NIV)

Two key words: great and lavished. Think one scoop of vanilla ice cream versus a banana split with three kinds of ice cream, chocolate syrup, strawberries, pineapple, marshmallow crème, whipped cream, nuts, and cherries.

Lavish. Great.

And what prompted John to say how great and lavish God’s love was?

The fact God called us His children.

Not servants.

Not slaves.

Not minions.

Children. His.

Adopted into the family. And this is no Harry Potterlike-cramped-cupboard-under-the-stairs Dursley type of adoption. We gain:

  • Provision
  • Protection
  • Access to Dad’s resources
  • Training
  • Discipline
  • Education
  • Care
  • Blessing
  • Inheritance

God’s love flows with grace and generosity, meeting far more than our basic needs. Frugal, it isn’t.

Now, go and do likewise.

Questions:

Compare these three:

Slave                                  Servant                                    Son

How would your parents treat a hired worker? (someone who mows the lawn, cleans the pool, changes the oil in the car)

How do they treat you?

Why?

Look at John 15:12. What makes us stingy? Have can we love each other lavishly?

Who will you lavish today? This week?

And what prompted John to say how great and lavish God’s love was? The fact God called us His children. Click To Tweet
Adopted into the family. And this is no Harry Potterlike-cramped-cupboard-under-the-stairs Dursley type of adoption. Click To Tweet
God’s love flows with grace and generosity, meeting far more than our basic needs. Frugal, it isn’t. Click To Tweet
Who will you lavish today? Click To Tweet

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