"And the lovely looking wherewith He looked upon His Servant continually,—and especially in his falling,—methought it might melt our hearts for love and burst them in two for joy. The fair looking ...was marvellous to behold: the one [part] was Ruth and Pity, the other was Joy and Bliss. The Joy and Bliss passeth as far Ruth and Pity as Heaven is above earth: the Pity was earthly and the Bliss was heavenly: the Ruth and Pity of the Father was [in regard] of the falling of Adam, which is His most loved creature; the Joy and Bliss was [in regard] of His dearworthy Son, which is even with the Father."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 51)
If we could see the way God looks at us, especially when we fail or sin, it would melt our hearts and fill us with happiness. We cannot even begin to imagine the love and tenderness and sweetness of that gaze, which is upon us at all times! It is a look of compassion, feeling for us in all our troubles, but even moreso it is a look of pure bliss. God is so happy with us, so pleased and proud of us, so filled with awe and wonder at His beautiful little children. Just as a parent is with a small child, He adores us. Our failings don't change His attitude toward us or His expression towards us one bit. His tender heart is filled with joy over us, and the look of love He gives us always is just the same look He gives to His Son Jesus! In just the same way, with just the same intensity, as the Father loves the Son, He also loves each of us. It seems too good to be true, yet it is.
As church father Hilary of Poitiers said in his book, On the Trinity, "God can never be anything but love, or anything but the Father." He has nothing but love to give us. He has no other attitude towards us than compassion and delight. Just as He would treat the Son, that's how He is treating us. Can we see Him now, smiling at us? Can we relax into that gaze of love and let it melt our cares away? Can we just stay for a moment in the embrace of that look, and forget our failures, realizing we are perfect to Him? What wonderful love is this, and what a wonderful God who is all love!
"His love for His Son is His love for us."
Ephesians 1:6 (MIRROR)
"Jesus, looking at him, loved him.."
Mark 10:21 (ESV)
A Prayer: One look in Your eyes, and I know I'm loved!