We love Him because He first loved us.
I John 4:19
Have you ever looked into the eyes of someone who believes more in you than you believe in yourself? Has someone seen your future before you saw it and wanted that future for you before you wanted it? If so, you have been deeply loved.
To be deeply loved means someone has had faith for us before we had faith. Someone else can love us so much that they believe for us until we can believe for ourselves.
We love Jesus because He first loved us. A part of His love was to have faith for us before we had faith. He believed we could be forgiven before we even knew we needed to be forgiven. He believed we could be redeemed before we even knew we needed redeeming.
Anyone who looked into the eyes of Jesus would have seen pure love inspired by perfect faith. They would have also seen someone looking back offering to share that faith and love.
I believe that one of the thieves that hung on a cross next to Jesus looked into the eyes of Jesus and saw pure faith and love. When he looked into Jesus’ eyes he received the faith and courage to say, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus lovingly responded “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” Jesus’ faith came before the thief’s faith. Jesus’ faith became the thief’s faith. The thief was able to ask because Jesus by faith and love had already seen him together with Him in paradise.
Whatever faith we have comes from the faith and love Jesus had concerning us. Whenever we love someone who has no faith, we offer them our faith before theirs is born in them. In doing this we are one with Jesus’ faith and love.
Faith and love give birth to faith and love. Jesus not only died for us when we were still His enemies. He believed for us when we could not believe. Truly faith is a gift from God to us in Christ.
Bud McCord
Abide International
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