After a prolonged process of tucking his two three-year-olds in bed, Steven Curtis Chapman felt impatient to get back to songwriting. As he shut the door, the Lord reminded him how quickly his oldest daughter Emily grew up. Steven felt bad for rushing his daughters, and knew this was an important message for parents. Steven wrote “Cinderella,” containing the words “the clock will strike midnight and she’ll be gone,” not knowing two years later his adopted daughter Maria Sue would be killed in an accident involving his 17-year-old-son, Will, as the driver. The first thing Steven said to him after the accident was, “Will Franklin, your father loves you.”

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I John 2:14

Steven Curtis Chapman can relate to the pain the Heavenly Father experienced when He gave His Son on the cross, simultaneously loving the one who was killed and the one who was responsible. In today’s verse, John appeals to fathers to love others…knowing the Father’s timeless and passionate love.

As you daily relate to family, friends and acquaintances, remember God’s desire is to express His love through you. Ask the Lord to use you. Then pray the people of this nation and their leaders will know and live in the Father’s love.

Recommended Reading: John 3:16-21  Click to Read or Listen