Knowledge of God helps us to know the extravagance of His love

God is faithful and true to His promises. According to His promise He called us into companionship with His Son Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:9). In fact, He called us into unity with Him (Ephesians 2:5)! Understanding of this truth should stop us in tracks, bring us to awe and totally transform our lives. Reflecting on the person of Jesus, and Who it is that actually lives in us, is what will cause that transformation. So, as we read further, remember that the One that we are talking about is living in us, that is in our spirit, right now. This is why 1 John 4:17 states that “… as He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.” We are not waiting for this unity with Jesus. Death to the old man, our sin nature, and the birth of our new man filled with the divine fullness, has already occurred (2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4).

Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, meaning that He is the very image of God’s nature (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). We know the Father through Jesus, Who brought God out into the open for all to see (John 1:18). Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Him (John 14:10). The words Jesus spoke came from the Father, Jesus did not speak of His own accord. It was also the power of the Father through Him, by which miracles and deeds of power occurred (John 14:10). This is how Jesus lived His life on earth, in unity and relationship with His Father. As we know this about Jesus, we know this about ourselves, because Jesus lives in us; we are one with Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Colossians 2:9,10)! Whatever is true about Jesus is true about us. Just like the Father worked through Jesus with His power, so too He will work through us. Remember, “as Jesus is so are we”.

Jesus expresses the heart of the Father toward us. We see the expression of Jesus’ heart by His prayer in John 17, and confirmation of the Father’s desire for us:

• That we be made one with the Father and the Son (vs 21).

• “And the glory which You (Father) have given to Me (Jesus) I have given to them” (vs 22).

• “I (Jesus) in them and You (Father) in Me” (vs 23).

• “That the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as you have loved Me” (vs 23).

This is the heart of the God toward us revealed in the person of Jesus Christ His Son! This is His desire for us.

What does Scripture say about the nature of Jesus and His Father, the nature that lives in us right now as believers? The nature of God that was present and expressed through Jesus, is confirmed by God’s names. God is described in the following ways:

• The Lord our Provider:

• The Lord our Healer:

• The Lord our Peace:

• The Lord our Righteousness:

• The Lord Who Sanctifies (makes holy):

• The Lord our Sheperd:

• The Lord Who is Ever Present:

• The Lord our Banner (our victory):

These descriptions of God’s nature confirm Who exactly lives in us. According to His nature, He speaks and acts. This should bring us to expectation as we reflect on the promises of God. His very nature in us and toward us is abundance, healing, provision, strengthening, holiness, peace and victory; a desire for relationship because He made it possible for us to come boldly into His presence as He created us in true holiness just like His Son. “You share inwardly (within your spirit) in Jesus’ likeness” (Romans 8:29)! We know by His nature that He loves us just like He loves His Son. And just like He loved Jesus and held nothing back from Him, but instead worked through Jesus to display His miracles and deeds of power, so too we can expect the same thing. We know by His nature that He never holds anything back from us.

Perhaps it could be said this way:

• I live healed.

• I live prosperous.

• I live constantly with You Who is ever present.

• I live not wanting because You are my Shepherd.

• I live holy.

• I live righteous.

• I live peaceful.

• I live victoriously.

I live this way because God loves me and I am united with Love Himself, with God!

Be transformed by renewing your mind to these truths of a living and loving God, Who has demonstrated extraordinary love for us and toward us. This is His consistent desire. He is a God Who never changes; God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). God did not place His glory, His nature in us to be hidden or not experienced. He enjoys blessing His children. Just like He blessed Jesus, you too are blessed. He planned in love for us to be His children through Jesus, because it pleased Him and was His kind intent; it was in accordance with His good pleasure and desire to lavish His love upon us! (Ephesians 1:5,7,9 Amplified)