As we continue our focus on simply stirring up our affections for God this week,

today we're going to take time to focus on the fact that God is present in our lives.

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, God is with you in and through it all.

In his presence, his nearness is the foundation on which we are meant to live as his people.

May we develop a greater sense of his nearness today and learn how we can live our life in light

of the goodness of his presence.

Welcome to the First 15 podcast.

Think about the death of Jesus for a moment. Picture how horrific the scene would have been to witness in person.

Now try and imagine witnessing it from the Father's perspective. Think about how he saw. and Think about how he felt placing the sin of the world, the sin of you and me, on the shoulders of his perfect and undeserving son.

I ask you to imagine all that for one reason, to gain perspective on the unfathomable love of God as expressed in

Ephesions 5.2.

Scripture says walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a slain offering and

sacrifice to God a sweet fragrance. When I read that verse I skipped over the life-changing

phrase a sweet fragrance.

With all the Father witnessed that day, with all the suffering Jesus faithfully endured,

God still considers Jesus' death a sweet fragrance.

How is that possible?

How could anyone consider the death of Jesus a sweet fragrance, let alone the Father?

Such is the incredible depths of God's love for us

that he would count the atrocities committed

against his son as a sweet fragrance.

Such is the enormity of God's desire for restored relationship with us that he would look upon the death of his son with favorable remembrance.

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