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How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

by Stuart Townend, Copyright:© 1995 Thankyou Music

Lord, we pray that we might understand your love for us.

How can we understand the love of God for us, His children? CAN we? Is it even possible? It almost seems to vast for us to comprehend. If you think about the unconditional love that your own parents had for you, or the selfless love you show to your own children, you may be able to start to try to grasp the idea a little better. The sacrifices: time, money effort… all that you do and give. All that was done and given to you. The joy, and the disappointment; and the continued heart of love throughout it all.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8Romans 5:8
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

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When someone loves us so deeply and so vastly, as in the song “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” we may have all sorts of different feelings, different emotions, different realizations. I’m a wretch. I am ashamed. I am a scoffer. I am a sinner. I am not worthy. But look what God has done for us – the ultimate sacrifice made for us by His son. Only someone who loves us with a love that knows no limits would do what has been accomplished for us. He sees the worth in us.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19Ephesians 3:16-19
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
16 God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers ¹⁷ and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. ¹⁸ . I pray that you and all of God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. h what is called wide or long or high or deep: This may refer to the heavenly Jerusalem or to God's love or wisdom or to the meaning of the cross. ¹⁹ I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.

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Read Galatians 5:15Galatians 5:15
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
15 But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals, you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves.

WP-Bible plugin. Think about how this applies to our church specifically right now. Consider how this passage also reflects Christ’s church as a whole worldwide.

Now read Galatians 5:16-21Galatians 5:16-21
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
God's Spirit and Our Own Desires ¹⁶ If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires. ¹⁷ The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should. ¹⁸ But if you obey the Spirit, the Law of Moses has no control over you. ¹⁹ People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. ²⁰ They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are ²¹ envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom.

WP-Bible plugin. Does any of that sound like you, the life you are leading, the heart and soul you project? If so, how can the love of God be reflected through you and from you toward others? What can you do to try to change your heart, to put on more of a Christ-like attitude?

Verses 22- 26 list the “fruits of the spirit.” Test yourself. Humbly reflect and meditate upon each individual “fruit.” Pray that God may strengthen you in each of these areas, particularly your personal areas of weakness.