WEBVTT 00:04.132 --> 00:13.783 [SPEAKER_00]: As we focus on stirring up our affections for God this week, today we'll take time to focus on His incredible love for us. 00:15.005 --> 00:19.250 [SPEAKER_00]: What we believe about God's love shapes everything about us. 00:20.011 --> 00:31.945 [SPEAKER_00]: And so today we'll take a moment to reflect on the great lengths He went to to restore our relationship with Him. 00:43.805 --> 00:48.094 [UNKNOWN]: You 00:53.963 --> 01:18.867 [SPEAKER_00]: our scripture for today comes from Ephesians 5, verse 2, scripture says, and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God, a sweet fragrance. 01:18.887 --> 01:21.490 [SPEAKER_00]: Think about the death of Jesus for a moment. 01:22.887 --> 01:27.034 [SPEAKER_00]: picture of how horrific the scene would have been to witness in person. 01:30.359 --> 01:33.844 [SPEAKER_00]: Now try and imagine witnessing it from the Father's perspective. 01:35.407 --> 01:44.541 [SPEAKER_00]: Think about how he saw, heard, felt, knew, and wept over everything that happened to Jesus. 01:46.445 --> 01:57.450 [SPEAKER_00]: Think about how he felt, placing the sin of the world, the sin of you and me, on the shoulders of his perfect and undeserving son. 01:59.506 --> 02:10.701 [SPEAKER_00]: I ask you to imagine all of that for one reason, to gain perspective on the unfathomable love of God as expressed in Ephesians 5 verse 2. 02:12.083 --> 02:25.260 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God, a sweet fragrance. 02:27.569 --> 02:34.136 [SPEAKER_00]: When I read that verse initially, I skipped over a life-changing phrase, a sweet fragrance. 02:35.617 --> 02:47.089 [SPEAKER_00]: With all the Father witness that day, with all the suffering Jesus faithfully endured, God still considers Jesus death, a sweet fragrance. 02:48.450 --> 02:49.511 [SPEAKER_00]: How is that possible? 02:50.733 --> 02:57.019 [SPEAKER_00]: How could anyone consider the death of Jesus, a sweet fragrance, let alone the Father? 02:58.518 --> 03:07.450 [SPEAKER_00]: Such is the incredible depth of God's love for us, that He would count the atrocities committed against His Son as a sweet fragrance. 03:08.752 --> 03:19.006 [SPEAKER_00]: Such is the enormity of God's desire for restored relationship with us, that He would look upon the death of His Son with favorable remembrance. 03:21.650 --> 03:28.339 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think we as God's children understand the joy our Father feels 03:29.737 --> 03:39.447 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think we understand the depth of his love that he would pay the highest price simply to have unhindered relationship with us again. 03:41.449 --> 03:58.647 [SPEAKER_00]: While meditating on this scripture, I realized I had never once thought about how tirelessly God has been working since Adam and Eve sinned simply to be able to enjoy his people again to walk with them as he once had. 04:00.601 --> 04:05.348 [SPEAKER_00]: The death of Jesus was a turning point in the scope of eternity. 04:06.670 --> 04:15.864 [SPEAKER_00]: His sacrifice meant a change from all of humanity opposing God to the crown of his creation returning to his fold. 04:17.667 --> 04:27.081 [SPEAKER_00]: When God placed the sin of humanity on Christ's shoulders, He was able to take the position of the Father in the story of the prodigal son. 04:27.196 --> 04:34.964 [SPEAKER_00]: running out to meet us as we are, his children finally able to return home to him for good. 04:37.808 --> 04:43.153 [SPEAKER_00]: God so longed for communion with you that he paid the ultimate price. 04:44.535 --> 04:47.898 [SPEAKER_00]: He counts you worthy of the death of his son. 04:49.360 --> 04:52.123 [SPEAKER_00]: Let that truth shape your identity. 04:53.116 --> 04:57.021 [SPEAKER_00]: Let God's love be the foundation for your perspective. 04:57.602 --> 05:00.466 [SPEAKER_00]: Thoughts, emotions, and actions today. 05:02.088 --> 05:06.895 [SPEAKER_00]: May your heart be stirred to live in light of God's unconditional love. 05:08.697 --> 05:12.943 [SPEAKER_00]: May you be rooted in the unshakable nature of your heavenly Father. 05:14.085 --> 05:22.937 [SPEAKER_00]: And may you live today in the eternal embrace of God, knowing that you are holy 05:46.694 --> 05:58.409 [SPEAKER_00]: as we begin, meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus, allow Scripture to form a foundation of unconditional love for your heart. 06:00.252 --> 06:12.668 [SPEAKER_00]: First Peter 318 says, for Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God. 06:47.039 --> 07:06.313 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, meditate on who you are as a child of God, form your identity around the truth of Scripture. 07:08.032 --> 07:19.476 [SPEAKER_00]: John 1 verse 12 says, but to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 08:02.285 --> 08:02.967 [SPEAKER_00]: and last. 08:04.331 --> 08:07.600 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask God to reveal the depth of His love for you. 08:09.425 --> 08:11.952 [SPEAKER_00]: Rest in the reality of His nearness. 08:13.697 --> 08:17.307 [SPEAKER_00]: Let Him fill your heart with His love to overflowing. 08:19.227 --> 08:42.703 [SPEAKER_00]: Ephesians chapter three verses 17 through 19 says, so that Christ made dwell in your hearts through faith, that you being rooted in grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth. 08:42.683 --> 08:51.394 [SPEAKER_00]: and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 09:35.165 --> 09:40.710 [SPEAKER_00]: Don't let the opinion of others sway you from your firm foundation of God's love. 09:42.411 --> 09:47.336 [SPEAKER_00]: What is the opinion of man in comparison to the perspective of God? 09:48.817 --> 09:54.942 [SPEAKER_00]: If God counts relationship with you, worth the death of Jesus, you are that valuable. 09:56.484 --> 10:03.670 [SPEAKER_00]: Cast aside the fickle thoughts of others for the truthful life-giving love of your heavenly father. 10:05.033 --> 10:13.419 [SPEAKER_00]: rest in his presence and find hope and security in the truth that his arms are always open to you. 10:14.562 --> 10:17.170 [SPEAKER_00]: Ready to embrace you just as you are. 10:43.762 --> 10:47.008 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 10:47.028 --> 10:49.266 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First15. 10:49.820 --> 11:01.392 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, try and stay in tune with the love of God and allow its reality to stabilize your thoughts, emotions, actions, and decisions. 11:02.533 --> 11:13.584 [SPEAKER_00]: If you haven't already, make sure to hit the follow button so you won't miss an episode in this week long journey to having our affections for God stirred up in a meaningful way every day. 11:14.805 --> 11:18.949 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek him.