Above Only Daily Devotional http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly Thursday, MAY 3 Love Based Identity John 19:26 (GNB), John 20:2 (GNB), John 21:7 (GNB)

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Thursday, MAY 3

Love Based Identity

John 19:26 (GNB), John 20:2 (GNB), John 21:7 (GNB)
Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, "He is your son." *She went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" *The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him ... and jumped into the water.

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Did you notice the way that John, the disciple of Jesus, described himself in the three different verses outlined in our text above? He described himself as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved.' Wow! What a wonderful way to be described. John was so confident about the love that Jesus had for him that it affected the manner in which he saw and described himself. This is why he became popularly known as 'John the Beloved.' Do you realise what the Bible says happens to us as we are filled with the knowledge of God's love? Ephesians 3:19 tells us that our knowledge of God's love fills us with God's fullness. There is an unusual wholeness and completeness that develops in our being and personality as the knowledge of God's great love dawns on us.

God severally described Jesus as His Beloved Son in whom He was well pleased, Matt.3:17, Matt.17:5. The first time He said it, Jesus had not yet even started His ministry. God loved Him, not because of what He had done, but because of who He was – His Son. God loves you the very same way that He loves Jesus, John 17:23.

By your faith in Jesus, you have been accepted as His beloved, Eph.1:6. You are a beloved son or daughter of God, just like Jesus. So see yourself, describe yourself, carry yourself and lead your life with this consciousness. If the prodigal son realized how His father saw him, he would not have begged for pig's food the way he did, Luke 15:16-24. I pray that a new consciousness of God's love for you dawns on you today.

PRAYER FOCUS: Worship God for His great love for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to flood your heart with the revelation of God's love for you.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: 1 KINGS 14-15; LUKE 22:31-46

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