“For God so loved the world…” John 3:16
What could inspire you more than the words of this passage? God loved us so very much that He gave His one and only Son for ME! Could I give up my child for anyone? For God?
Oh wait, I don’t have any children. Well, biological children. As you can imagine, wanting kids and not having them was very hard for me. But, over the years, inspired by God’s love, I have since adopted many children, that may not be mine by blood, but are mine in my heart.
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
In my season of desperately wanting children of my own, I was not finding inspiration in God’s love. I was sad, angry, and wondering what I had done so wrong that God didn’t want me to have children? I know now that then, I needed to believe and receive God’s love for me, by faith. I wish I would have read this scripture in Zephaniah and sat in His presence until I understood and accepted His will, until He quieted me with His love. I did finally do just that, but it took me a few years. Well, a lot of years. 😉
“My command is this; Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12
After many years of hard-fought battles, that is what I decided to do. Love others as God has loved me. But I couldn’t do it on my own, I needed God to inspire me. When I married my husband Dewitt, that marriage brought his three children into my life. I worked hard on my relationship with them with God’s help. I grew to love them as if they were my own and let me tell you about my two granddaughters! They call me Granbe and love me like I’m related by blood…and I love them right back!
“And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in the world we are like Him… We love because He first love us.” 1 John 4:16–19
God wants us to accept His love and then let Him love others through us. He gives us many examples of His love in His word, all you have to do is look for them. How many times was He present for the children of Israel, even when they turned their back on Him? How many times has He loved me, even when I turned my back on Him and felt so unlovable? He loves us so much, so let’s be inspired by His love and choose to love others!
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
He has given me a lot of my heart’s desires. Do you know how many children that Dewitt and I have “adopted” into our heart and lives? We love on many “kids” young and old, black, white, or brown. I have one son that I asked his mom if I could be his mom when she is not around and she said yes. I love him and his wife and their kids as my very own. This is only one of many examples.
How can I do this if not for the inspiration that God gives me to love? I have been told by many that maybe if I had biological children, I couldn’t love you and your children so much. I want to encourage you to read Psalm 139…it tells us how much He loves us and how He knows all about us. He knew us before we were even born. I love the old song, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so.” But sometimes I like to turn that around and say, “Jesus knows me, this I love.” He knows me and loves me anyway.
So, why not be inspired by God’s love and choose to love those around you?
We would like to thank Debbie Crosby for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 