Aubrey was given The Jesus Storybook Bible for Christmas from Nana and Papa. Let me just say, it is an amazing kids Bible! I wasn't sure I would like it because it's a summary of Bible stories rather than the actual wording from the Bible, though it does have quotes from actual scripture. I was SO wrong! I heart this Bible. It tells each story through the lens of the redeeming work of Jesus. Every passage points to Jesus, God's love for His people and how He has reached down to save us throughout history.
As I was reading to Aubrey from one of the first passages, I was struck by a simple statement that is truly at the heart of what I hope to teach Aubrey through her childhood, teen years and into adulthood. It said in reference to creation and God calling his creation good that, "We are lovely because He loved us." Simple, right? And yet it's taken my whole life to learn it.
We live in a society of achievements, of earning one's place, of pulling yourself up by your boot straps (Whatever that means). I have the tendency to try to earn my approval from God, to have to live up to my service or leadership. All of my striving are filthy rags to Him. I am lovely because HE LOVES ME! I am saved because HE SAVED ME! I am changed because HE CHANGED and CHANGES ME, not because of my supposed "works of righteousness."
It's a simple concept and yet I fail at living in it every day. My goal with my kids is that they would know they are lovely and saved ONLY because of the shed blood of Christ and the Father's continual arms reaching out to save them! Lord, may it be so!
