And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. — John 14:3
Much of the Christian life is a series of paradigm shifts. God is slowly transforming us so that we can begin to see all of life from His point of view.
Here’s the first of seven paradigm shifts that have changed my life: God likes me.
All my life, I had been told that God loves me. I figured, hey, does He have any choice? That’s His job. He is love. He has to love everybody. I also equated God’s love with medicine – it didn’t always taste good, but it was supposed to be good for you, sort of like castor oil. I’m not saying these impressions were accurate, they were just what I believed.
But in the 1980s, when I was in my 30s, the Lord enabled me to understand something new about that love. God likes me. That blew my mind.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t hang out with people that I don’t like any longer than I have to. But if I really like somebody, I hate to see them leave.
Jesus is preparing a place for you. He’s fixing up a room in His house. Do you understand what that means? He wants to spend forever with you. He likes you. He likes being with you. Hanging out with you is fun for Him.
It’s one thing to chat with somebody at the supermarket. It’s another to invite them over for a meal. But Jesus has gone way beyond all of that. He wants you to move in — to join the family. He likes you. A lot.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.