We Are Lavishly Loved!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1, NIV

Wow! Two exclamation points in one verse. I love exclamation points! When I used to teach reading to children, it was always so fun to introduce them to exclamation points and hear them read aloud.

We are children of God if we have believed and received Jesus Christ. And as God’s children, we are forever recipients of our Father’s lavish loving on us! Isn’t lavish a great word? According to Webster’s, it comes from a French word I cannot pronounce that means “downpour, very generous, abundant, giving or spending liberally.” Picture it. God just drenches us in a downpour of His love. I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer being deluged with that kind of shower rather than being bone dry.

Not too long ago, I received a hint of this kind of love when my husband pulled out all the stops to celebrate a big birthday of mine. When I saw the results of all the time he put into it, I was touched beyond words. I didn’t need a party after watching him so lavishly love me and seeing how he had worked to surprise me. The icing on the birthday cake had pink smiley faces. The pink tablecloths were laden with fresh, beautiful Ukrop’s shrimp, appetizers, and cake! We ate leftovers for a week with our sweet neighbors. As well-loved as I felt that day, it is just a small taste of the abundant love we receive every minute from our heavenly Father here on earth. We have everything when we know Christ, and we have everything to offer others!

Let’s live like lavishly loved children and celebrate by thanking our Great God, telling Him how much we love Him.