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 called us into your arms, you claimed us as your children, you cleansed us from our sin and guilt, you commissioned us to special service and you cherish us wholeheartedly.
Jesus said in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” This is an astounding, worldview shifting statement. If we grasp this, it will change our whole lives, resulting in us “being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:16-19)
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.
More 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.
As the Father loves the Son, so Jesus loves us. This astounding, beautiful, transforming and wonderful truth is too good to be true–and yet it is true for believers, because Jesus has purchased and given us His righteousness, His guiltless record and His holiness. We can rest in His love, abide in His love, 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!]
“hide me in the shadow of your wings.”
[you, Heavenly Father, actively shelter your children, covering us with your presence, keeping us safe from what is truly evil. But we, like chicks, need to stay under your wings, to abide in your love, as you command us in John 15:9-10, “Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
If we stray, we remove ourselves from the protecting shelter of your love, but you never stop loving us. You are always there, waiting for us to come and again abide in your shelter, your grace, your unconditional love. When we do stray in disobedience, you actively, in your love, chasten us by letting us suffer the consequences of our poor choices (Heb. 12:1-17), so we will come to our senses and return to obedience of you. You WILL hide us under your wings, if we will come.]
Help us, Lord, to abide in your love, obeying what we know to be true, reveling in the Truth of your great and wonderful Love for us. May we have the glow of your love in our souls and on our faces as we go with you into today, that we may bring light and hope to all those we meet.
