Answered Prayer: Today, I Saw the Love of God

This morning I read a prayer from a little book I have called The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. I was convicted about my love for God and for others so naturally, I turned to the table of contents looking for love. I found it under the subtitle "Gifts of Grace".

As I read through the prayer, I came to a portion that prodded at my heart and the fact that I would be leaving for church with my wife in a less than an hour. It read:

Let me see thy love everywhere,

not only at the cross,

but in the fellowship of believers

and in the world around me.

When I feel the warmth of the sun

may I praise thee who art the Sun of righteousness

with healing power.

How fitting; I would be presented with the strong possibility of seeing my prayer(s) answered in less than an hour. I would be surrounded by believers so the chances of seeing God's love in the fellowship of believers was very likely, almost inevitable.

We arrived at church and Cindy and I were greeted by people that we know and love--the love of God. We worshipped the King of Glory together--the love of God. We sat under the teaching of the Word and rejoiced together at God's wisdom unfolded to us from the Scriptures--the love of God. We examined ourselves, repented, embraced the Cross and came to the communion table together--the love of God. Afterwards, we worked together to turn our Sunday gathering spot back into a high school gym, and we did it with a smile on--the love of God. A few of us made plans for a picnic in the park. No t.v., no restaurant crowds or coffee shop chatter, just fellowship, food and God's creation as seen at Pennypack Park--the love of God. 

In the parking lot, close friends of ours said, "We have something that belongs to you." I wasn't sure what it could be because I hadn't given them anything (that I was aware of). To my surprise, it was a gift--a French Press coffee maker; The irony lies in the fact that just last night Cindy and I were in Target and I said, "I'd like to buy a French Press." We didn't buy one. There it was, the love of God, in a French Press. I turned to our friends and said, "You know what's funny? This morning I prayed that I would see the love of God in the fellowship of believers and here it is. I see it." 

After the parking lot gift giving, we drove towards the park for our picnic. In short, there was family, food, fellowship and a trip to the creek so the kids could play in the mud and the water (funny to watch)--the love of God. On top of that, I did feel the warmth of the sun, and it came from the Sun of righteousness--the love of God.

God was so gracious to me today in showing me manifestations of His love through the lives and hearts of His people. Soli Deo Gloria.

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:10