Lately, I have felt it necessary to write on the deep love found only in God. In the coming weeks we will see varying stages of intimate relation to God. I think it is best to first realize that in this relationship, it is only because of God that we can even approach His throne room. 

Fully Known

“O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.” Psalms 139:1

I find that when I attempt to look at greatness of God, I can be tempted to think that He wouldn’t bother Himself with knowing a small, seemingly insignificant person like me. Our human minds can’t comprehend someone knowing every person, but for God, He doesn’t just know of each person, but He knows about each one deeply. Every memory, every desire, every victory, and every loss. He even knows down to every thought. God is not too busy with everyone else to take notice of you. In a sea of people praying up to Him, He can still pick you out and listen to all that you have. That is not to say that He is tuning everyone else out, He is just that loving. His infinite love is not constrained by human thought, it goes well beyond it. Furthermore, God is not learning when we pray. God already knows what each person is going through and what they need before they say it. He has searched each persons inner being, and knows each of them, even better than they know themselves. He would not do this if He did not love them. You do not look into something this deeply without firstly loving the thing. 

Fully Loved

“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

To be fully known can be scary. There is a reason many people try desperately to hide their guilt and shame. With God, there is no need to hide what He already knows and there is no need to fear because we can see all the ways He loves in spite of all the reasons. Jesus knew every single thing you did to put Him on the cross and yet He still did the most loving thing and hung on that tree for hours, the Bible says there is no greater love than that. Jesus speaks about His love for us often, but maybe the most telling of these times is found in John 15. In which, Jesus compares His love for His people to the love God the Father loves Him. The love of the Father for the Son is so incredible that for all of eternity they are one. The Father and Jesus are eternally abiding with one another, and Jesus says His love equal to that. Jesus desires us to abide in and with Him. His love is not do’s and don’ts, He is desiring us to simply abide with Him. He knows all the dirty secrets and yet He still desires to be with His people. How great is the love that forgives, forgets, and pursues?

Fully Devoted

“and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

Not only does God know all people, not only does He love, but He is fully committed to a relationship with His people. He is not passively watching His creation, He is not a sleeping old man in the sky, He is actively and intentionally working all things for good. Jesus does not commit to being with us just for the good times, but the bad and the ugly times all the same. I’ve heard it said like this, Jesus is a shepherd in the lowlands and a sherpa in the heights. He is perfectly fit for all circumstances and is right there with us as we traverse all the trials of various kinds. Knowing that the One who fully knows and loves us, is with us is only as helpful as much as you call on Him. Do not ignore the One that knows you inside and out, do not ignore the One who loves you the most in spite of it all. Do not ignore the One willing and exceedingly able to work all things for your good and for His glory.