One Thing Needful

But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trepasses. By grace you are saved! He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Love by nature is giving. Love does for others. God is love. God lavishes His love on us because love is His nature, His character. Because He is love itself, He created man–not simply because He wanted fellowship, but because love must be lavished on someone to be satisfied. His desire for fellowship was because of His great love. He created man in His image with the capacity to love. He placed the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the center of the garden knowing the love He desired from man in return must come willingly or it would not be true love. Giving them an instruction to obey was the first test of love. Giving man a choice was the first step to purifying man’s love for God. God’s entire plan through the ages has been about bringing a people to Himself who not only loves Him purely and whole-heartedly, but a people on whom He can lavish His love for eternity.

I used to think God loves us because He created us, but now I see God created us to satisfy His great love. He created us solely to be the object of His love and affection. That’s why love is the greatest command, the pinacle of Christian virtue.

Lord, mold me and shape me by Your love. Give me a heart like Yours to return Your love and to be a conduit of Your love to others.