It is My Desire to Lavish My Love on You

March 15

1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

I attend a men’s Bible study group that meets two Saturday mornings a month.  This group of 5 to 6 guys from my church have studied a variety of materials which included the book of Ephesians.  The first session of this study had us discussing Chapter 1.  When I read verses 7 and 8a - “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” - I was stopped in my tracks.  The word “lavished” jumped off the page and hit me squarely between the eyes.  

Lavished.  The riches of God’s grace lavished on us.  Lavished.  God did not sprinkle the riches of His grace on us.  He did not just give us a “pinch” of His grace.  God is not sparing in His grace.  He has not given it to us in small amounts or a little bit at a time.  No!  He LAVISHED His grace on us!  God poured out His grace.  As I read verse 8 that morning, I created an image in my mind of God taking a large Gatorade container (like the ones along the sidelines in an athletic competition in which the winning coach will often receive a “Gatorade bath”) and pouring His grace out on me.  God gives me a “grace bath.”  This “pouring out of His grace” covers me completely and washes away the guilt and shame that I can so easily carry.  He does this because He loves me.   

In August 2020, I surrendered my addiction and life to God.  I had finally come to the end of myself and was desperate to find healing and freedom from what had been an almost four decades struggle with addiction.  In the years since that night, I have been learning more about God’s grace and accepting His grace and what it has done - and continues to do - in my life.  I don’t think I will ever fully understand His grace and why He has chosen to LAVISH it on me, but I am so grateful for this grace that has changed my life.  What love the Father has for me that he generously - and willingly - pours out His grace on me.