Pearls of Grace: 12 Pearls + 12 PrayersChikamu

Perfect Love: God's deep and abiding love is perfect in every way: in wisdom, knowledge, understanding, timing, intensity, grace, mercy, truth, and more. The list could go on and on. His Word tells us that there is no fear in love. What does this mean? God's perfect love is seen in the cross. When we fear judgment, punishment, or condemnation we can look to the cross and remember that all we deserved was poured out upon Christ.

I love Richard Baxter's encouragement to believe that we are loved by God, "Is it a small thing in your eyes to be loved by God – to be the son, the spouse, the love, the delight of the King of glory? Christian, believe this, and think about it: you will be eternally embraced in the arms of the love which was from everlasting, and will extend to everlasting – of the love which brought the Son of God’s love from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to glory – that love which was weary, hungry, tempted, scorned, scourged, buffeted, spat upon, crucified, pierced – which fasted, prayed, taught, healed, wept, sweated, bled, died. That love will eternally embrace you."

Let us ponder over and over the deep and abiding love of God. This well-known hymn, written in the 1800s by Samuel Trevor Francis can help us meditate on God's love for us:

O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me, is the current
Of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to
Thy glorious rest above

O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee
O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore

How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth
Never, nevermore

Loving Father and almighty God, I want to live in the reality of your perfect love. I want to dwell in it and make it my humble, holy abode. Show me how to remember your love, remember your cross. I want to walk in this love and love others with your love. Grant me your grace to love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as myself. In Jesus' name. Amen.