Devotions based on James Smith book, Embracing the Love of God

Julian of Norwich wrote, “The greatest honor we can give to the Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love.” 
So much of our lives we live in alienation because of the years of being exposed to messages of condemnation.  But the good news is that God loved us first many times and everyday our whole life through. His love is constant and never changing. Every moment of every day he is loving us.  He woos us like a lover.

It is our pride that wants to earn God’s acceptance because we feel so unacceptable.  IF we try to work for something it is not a gift but rightful wages. But when we give a gift we are saying, “You did not earn this, and I do not owe you this, but I want to give it to you because I love you. “ God’s love is a gift and not based on our behavior or earning. God’s love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. ( Rom. 5:5)  He whispers how much we are loved. We have heard this message perhaps all our lives but takes so long to go from our heads to our hearts.

Let us go into this day pondering the  amazing fact that He chose us even though we are not perfect but loves us just as we are?