For several years, in the core of my soul, I have believed and felt, “God delights in me.”

At one time, I didn’t know if I could ever feel this way. I had too many cracks.

If my parents, as God’s surrogates, had loved me perfectly; and if all of my friends, teachers, coaches, and pastors had loved me perfectly, and if everyone in my church, little league, and neighborhood had loved me perfectly, because they had all been loved perfectly, then I would have had no cracks.

But my parents and all these others were, themselves, not loved perfectly, and we can trace this all the way back to the Fall of Adam and Eve. Because of the Fall, and the sin than ensues, we fail to receive, and give, the love that nurtures the soul. All agonies result from interference with God’s perfect love.

I have cracks, you have cracks, they have cracks, and so the world is cracked and broken.

This is the world into which Jesus was born. This is why the Gospel of Grace is such priceless treasure, everything else a pittance in comparison.

 “How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

If I had it to do over, I just might study only this one verse until I could say, “God delights in me.” Perhaps it would have accelerated my belief in the love that has, now, fully conquered my soul.

God delights in you, too.

Until every church disciples every man….

Pat