Lately, when my 3 ½-year-old daughter first wakes up in the morning, she patters into the living room, climbs into my lap and curls up there. I wrap my arms around her and we just sit and breathe. In those few brief moments, when everything is still, I close my eyes and am filled with the peace and joy and love that comes from her just being there, from us just being together.
It was during one of those moments, that the impact of this week’s Bible study lesson hit me. We were to read about Jesus’ ascension into heaven from all four Gospels, and then also read John 14. Suddenly I found myself enveloped in the embrace of the Father, curled up in His lap, soaking up His love, and realizing that His desire is for me to be there, with Him, in complete peace.
In My Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:2-3).
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (14:18).
Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you (14:19-20).
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him (14:23).
The God of the Universe wants to be with me, wants to hold me, wants to make His home with me, and Jesus Christ, His Son, died, and defeated death in order to make this possible.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (14:27).
When Ruthie is curled up in my lap, she is not troubled, or afraid. She knows I will make her breakfast and take care of her needs; she knows I love her and will always love her. In John 14, Jesus promises the disciples His peace. In John 20, after He has conquered death itself, He appears to His disciples again, and the first words out of His mouth? “Peace be with you” (20: 19). He has come back from the dead, back to life, and joyfully offers us His peace. Jesus continually rested in the strength of His Father, completely confident in His ability to take care of all things, completely aware of His Father’s love for Him. Jesus went to the cross to make us His brothers and sisters, to offer us a place on His Father’s lap, a place of peace and confidence and security. Why do I think the God who created this very world might not be able to handle my problems? Why do I allow fears and troubles to creep in and cloud my view of His love? Why do I spend so little time curled up in His lap, just sitting there, breathing in the very presence of Him and resting in the solidity of a relationship He died to give me?
Father,
You have proved time and time again that You are God, that You are real, that You are Love and, amazingly, that You long for my embrace. Help me to put aside the cares of this world in order that I might curl up in Your lap of peace and strength and security. May I be so close to You that my ear hears the beat of Your heart.
Amen.
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