As kids, my brother, sister and I delighted in summer afternoons sitting on the front porch steps eating watermelon slices held in our hands. Red-hued juice ran out the corners of our mouths, dribbling downward on the concrete stairs. Large black seeds were regularly found in each bite. We spit them out upon the grass. Kiddingly, we joked that if you swallowed a seed, a watermelon would grow inside your stomach!

As children, life was full of simple pleasures. Those days remain in our memories and are good to look back upon with fondness.

Lord Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

Children are rather simple. They know when they are loved. Then they trust, willingly, easily, and respectfully (most times).

We must know that we are loved. (1Thessalonians 1:4)

I once asked the Lord for all the love He would give me. He showed me in His Word that He has already done this. God the Father sent what was most valuable to Himself, He gave up His Son’s presence. He watched what His Son went through. Not easy. But God the Father did so out of His great love for us. He gave Jesus.

Isaiah the Old Testament prophet wrote, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Immanuel means, “God with us.” How great is His love, to send His Son, to be with us, to be even one of us.

This prophecy was fulfilled approximately 800 years later in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means, ‘God with us’).”

How great is the love of God! The fullness of God completely and permanently dwells in Lord Jesus. (Colossians 1:19) He is the Trustee of God’s love to us. He intercedes for us. He is the Door to Heaven and to God the Father. (John 14:6)

Jesus did not grow up playing Nintendo, riding a bike, nor eating sushi. He did not have the luxuries of running water, electricity and the internet. He was not spoiled, though He was the Son of God. He came as a servant. He came to lay His life down that we would know God better, His love for us. He came that we would have eternal life.

All of this was done at the Father’s good pleasure, because He loves us.

It was not easy. It was not without thought. It was good.

As God planned in His love for us in the past, with His Son’s life, death, and resurrection, so He continues to plan for our future. Trust Him. It may not be easy. It is not without thought and planning. It is good. Trust Him as a child trusts his loving father.

LOOK UP!