A DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT by Lois Coady
Have you ever watched the TV show Long Lost Family? Chris Jacobs and Lisa Joyner are the two anchors for the show. They each take requests from people who have a longing to be reunited with a family member they have been separated from for years. The stories that Chris and Lisa uncover in their search for long lost family members are riveting and range from birth parents and adoptees separated at birth to siblings separated at a young age due to unforeseen family circumstances. I find the stories gripping.
Yes, I may be more sensitive to these stories based on my history, but the stories cover the gamut. Adoptive children talk about their deep longing to know their origin. Birth parents talk about their deep longing to know that the child they gave up is doing okay and about their deep desire to let the child know they were never forgotten. Siblings who remember, even if vaguely, enjoying the company and comfort of their brother or sister years earlier, long to reconnect just one more time.
What I see and hear in these stories from Long Lost Family is an intensity of love that can only be compared to God’s deep love for us. God didn’t just say he loved us, he showed us he loved us and constantly reinforces his love for us. Think about that as you read the following passages:
- He loved us so much that he sacrificed his son so we would have eternal life through him (John 3:16).
- God chose us before the beginning of time and in love predestined us for adoption through Jesus (Ephesians 1:4-5).
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In Colossians 3:12 we are reminded that we are “…God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…”
Whenever you feel unimportant, think about how God sacrificed his only Son so you could be with him for eternity. Whenever you feel insignificant, remember that the God of the universe chose you before time began and that you have been adopted into his family through Jesus. And when you feel unloved, know that you are not just loved, but are dearly loved by God.
God's love for you is intense. I hope you will savor that reality and let it soak into your heart today.
