Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world
to be holy and blameless in his sight.
In love he predestined us to be adopted
as his sons through Jesus Christ,
in accordance with His pleasure and will--
to the praise of his glorious grace,
which he has given us in the One he loves.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God's grace
that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 1:3-8
(emphasis mine)
God gave the One He loved for us... the ones He loves...
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:19-20
(emphasis mine)
This love-gift cost God all His fullness... His infinite power... wisdom... knowledge... glory... all His fullness required to reconcile all things... through His blood... on the cross... costly...
But for the joy set before Him... He gave... He loved...
Lord Jesus, teach me to love like You... lavishly... with joy... with grace. Only in You... surrendered to You... thankful for Your love for me... do I have any hope of loving well. Thank You... for loving me...
How do you love? ...with grace? ... with pleasure? ...with a grudge?
Do you love only to receive? ...or for the joy set before you?
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