My father is a giver. That is the way he expresses his feelings toward those he loves. Whether it is buying you breakfast, a new shirt, filling your gas tank up before your long trip, or simply making sure that you have money in your all too empty wallet, he is a giver. For those who follow Gary Chapman, this is his "love language". Most of us either know someone like this or we have this trait in ourselves. So it is no small wonder that we would expect this out of heavenly father. What we might not be ready for and what God may be ready to reveal to us is a love that we have not known - a love that takes away. At first glance it almost seems backwards and down right cruel. Why would a God who loves us take away from us the things that we love? How is this an expression of love? Is it not cruel? Is it not hate? Indeed it is not! God knows what we need most. God knows what will bring us more contentment and more satisfaction that anything and knowing this - if He really loves ...
Reflections on Scripture, Theology, Preaching and The Christian Life