No Greater Love by Gina Sewell

Gina Sewell is a mom and grandma who lives in the Dallas, Texas area, where she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. She loves to write about Jesus and encourage others. Gina shares her journey on her website: http://www.ginabartonsewell.wordpress.com

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

Can you imagine a love so strong that you would sacrifice your child? I can’t. But thank God for His amazing grace and gift to us that we may be given the opportunity to have a relationship with Him and live eternally in heaven.

I remember the night that I got saved. I was at church camp. I could feel the Holy Spirit and I began to sob because the feeling was so strong. Over the years I’ve gotten lost many times–as a rebellious teenager, and even in later years because of things that I couldn’t understand. Anger had built up inside of me that I didn’t know how to deal with and a pain that I thought that I couldn’t bear. I turned away from the Lord for a while, but I came back. Thank you, God, that we can come home.

This reminds me of the parable of the prodigal son. He had squandered his entire inheritance, and he was so ashamed of what he had done, but he returned home out of necessity. He was hungry. There was a famine in that country, and he had become desperately in need of food to eat. “So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” (Luke 15:20-21 NIV)

But the father didn’t see it that way. He told his servants to kill the fattened calf so that they may have a feast and celebrate. “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:24 NIV)

This parable is to let us know how God feels about us even when we get lost and we do things that are not part of his plan for us and for our lives, he still loves us and he is still waiting for us with open arms.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your amazing love for us. It knows no bounds. Thank you for your mercy and grace. We all fall short at times, Lord, but your love for us never waivers. You said that you would never leave us, and I know that to be true. Thank you, Lord, for all you do for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.