His Favorite

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

—Romans 5:8 (NIV)

 

 

We are God’s passion. Jesus gave His highest for us. There is nothing more He could have given. His passionate love bought us freedom from sin, sickness, and gave us the gift of His righteousness. He held nothing back from us. His fervent grace was costly. It cost Him everything, and even though His grace cost us nothing, it yearns within us to love as He first loved us.

 

Have we allowed His grace to change our perspective from the old person we once were? Have we allowed our failures, problems, and even memory of sins that were crucified with Christ to hold us back? When we believe in our hearts that His passionate Grace is completely ours, we are overwhelmed, overjoyed, and overflowing with His love. The old person is gone. We are free to love as He first loved us (1 John 4:19). There is nothing we would ever deny Him. His passionate, forgiving, and healing love flows without hesitation through us.

 

In 1 Kings 19:21, Elisha, having been chosen by Elijah, walks away from all he has had. He destroys what is left in his life that might draw him back from his call. He accepts the cloak and purpose of His Master without hesitation. Jesus calls us to let go of the bondage of the past that once defined us. He calls us to let go of what has kept us from understanding the righteousness He has given—to believe by faith in the miracle of His finished work of grace. With that surrender, we receive the revelation of who He is in us. We are fueled by His passionate love. On the Cross, He declared that we were His ultimate passion. When we believe who He declares us to be, He is our ultimate passion. We walk away from all we have believed ourselves to be. We accept who Jesus says we are.

 

Do you believe what His passion has given you? Abandon who you have believed yourself to be. Believe who He says you are. Just as Elisha accepted Elijah’s cloak, accept Christ’s identity as your own. Hold nothing back. Surrendering is only costly when you do not believe the cost of what He has given you. When you believe the truth that you are new and complete in His grace, you flow in His love and power. You hold nothing back. With your surrender comes the greatest fulfillment—the belief that your loving Father is absolutely real within you. 

 

While you were yet a sinner, Christ gave His life for you. His love declared that you were God’s favorite. You are now new in Christ’s love because He held nothing back. You hold nothing back when you grasp the depth of His passion for you. Your whole perspective changes. You believe that He first loved you. Your love for Him just overflows. It cannot be contained. His unconditional love in you fuels your passion to love as He first loved you.

 

When we believe who we are in His grace. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

 

© 2022 Lynn Lacher

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