Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of your eye;”
[This, Lord God, is how you view each of your children: special, unique and dearly loved. In you we are delighted in, doted on and deeply cared for. You chose us, you cleansed us from our sin and guilt, you called us into your arms, you claimed us as your children, you commissioned us to special service and you cherish us wholeheartedly with joy.
Jesus made an amazing statement in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” This is an astounding, worldview-shifting announcement. If we grasp this in ongoing depth, it will change our whole lives, resulting in us “being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:16-19).
And how does God the Father love Jesus the Son?
Eternally,
wholeheartedly,
without reservation,
without interruption,
without any doubts.
He loves Him joyfully, jubilantly and justly.
He loves Him positively, purposefully and powerfully.
He loves Him for His character, for His connection and for His companionship.
He loves Him constantly, creatively and consistently.
He loves Him fully, forcefully and forever.
Most foundationally, the Father loves the Son because God IS love; He never cannot love. His love is “agape,” that is, it does not depend on the response of the loved one. Whatever we may do, God’s love will not stop flowing to us.
Now, as the Father loves the Son, so Jesus loves us!!! This is an astounding, beautiful, transforming and wonderful truth, too good to be true–and yet it is true for all believers, because Jesus has purchased us and given us His righteousness, His guiltless record and His holiness.
As John exulted in 1 John 3:1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
We can rest in His love, abide in His love and revel in His love because it is secure, eternal and wholehearted. It is not based on us but upon His unchanging, all powerful nature. We ARE the apple of His eye!]
