A Few Thoughts on God’s Possessive Love

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  …  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.  

(1 John 4:7, 11 KJV)

A number of years ago, I spent a week visiting my friend Neena and her family.  The week was meaningful in many ways.  At that time, Neena and Roger’s daughter, Daria, was about three (she is now a teenager!).  Daria was a typical, bright, and energetic toddler—inquisitive and of course, possessive.  

Kim at almost three years old

One day the three of us were in the car going to a restaurant Neena wanted me to experience.  Daria suddenly said, “My mommy.  My daddy.  My Kim.” Too cute!  Neena had her repeat it for affect. Ah, to experience the possessiveness, acceptance, and love of a toddler!  It was a healing balm to my heart.

Kim at almost three years old

Reflecting on this later, I saw how this demonstrated not only how God possesses us but also how God loves us.  Our God is a loving God who desires our whole heart—no divided loyalties—(see Matthew 6:24).  By giving God our whole heart we find freedom we have never before experienced.

While toddlers are possessive and prone to tantrums when their possessions are taken from them or when they do not get their way; God allows us the ability to walk away from Him or to give Him little thought or simply not acknowledge His presence.  Our God protects His child, His treasured possession, in the storms of life. Yes, God’s love is a possessive, stubborn love—it is a love that allows, His child to grow and thrive—becoming the person He created us to become.

From https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/07/12/12/43/god-146126_960_720.png

When was the last time you felt that type of love from God?  What about from others?  I pray that each person can truly experience this type of healing love. Love that heals, love that is not domineering, controlling, or suffocating is the love God readily gives us.  What is your response to God’s love?

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  

(Isaiah 11:6 KJV)

When we stop long enough to ponder; we can see the truth in Isaiah’s words (in the passage above): “…and a little child shall lead them.”  We can learn so very much from children, if we take the time to listen to them and reflect on their words.  My friend’s little girl taught me a simple but profound lesson—a lesson that I desperately needed to learn (or perhaps re-learn)—that I was precious, unique, and worthy to be accepted because I was alive.  This was a lesson that God knew I needed, after a very difficult season of living a life I was not meant to live; enduring treatment I was not meant to experience.

Jesus saw the value of children (in a society that placed little value on them) and took time for them.  What is our response to the children in our lives? How are we at taking time for children, especially to listen to what they are saying or not saying?  The responsibility is great; however, with God’s guidance, children can blossom into faithful believers of the next generation.  We need them and they need us!

What have you learned from a child?

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your possessive, stubborn love for us.  It is only through You—knowing You—that we can truly love You and each other. Open our hearts and minds to what You have for us to learn from the children You have placed around us.  O that we would have that childlike openness to include others in love and accept them for their inner qualities.  Empower us to accept and love each other—seeing each person and event from Your perspective.  Without Your help, we cannot love others as we should.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim