The Daily CHEW™
Moving God’s Love from Head to Heart for Christian Professionals
Why This Matters for You
You say “Jesus loves me, this I know,” and you may even agree that the Father loves you. But John 17:23 contains a claim so staggering it’s hard to take seriously:
“…that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me.” (John 17:23, ESV)
Before that can sink in, you need to see something else clearly: How does the Father actually love Jesus?
If you’re like most high-capacity Christian professionals, your instincts about being loved are shaped by performance, usefulness, and outcomes. You may imagine God as mostly evaluating—grading your week, your leadership, your family life.
But the way the Father loves the Son is nothing like a performance review. It is eternal delight, shared glory, and unwavering presence. Sitting with that reality first isn’t abstract theology; it’s the foundation for understanding everything else—worship, identity, and eventually how John 17:23 can possibly be true for you.
The Gospel Meets You Right Here
In John 17, Jesus lets you overhear His prayer with the Father. It is as if the curtain is pulled back on the relationship that existed before anything was created.
“…You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24, ESV)
This means:
- The Father loved the Son before any act of creation, redemption, or obedience.
- Love is not a reaction; it is God’s eternal life within Himself.
- The Father’s first movement toward the Son is delight, not demand.
At Jesus’ baptism, that love becomes audible:
“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17, ESV)
Before miracles, sermons, or the Cross, the Father publicly declares pleasure in the Son. The love here is:
- Personal: “My beloved Son”
- Enjoying: “with whom I am well pleased”
- Unashamed: declared out loud, in front of others
Later, Jesus describes a relationship marked by unbroken companionship:
“I am not alone, for the Father is with Me.” (John 16:32, ESV)
Even as the Cross approaches, Jesus is not abandoned in preparation or mission. The Father is present, aware, purposeful—even when the Son walks toward suffering.
And in John 17, we see shared glory and mutual self-giving:
“All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine…” (John 17:10, ESV)
The love between Father and Son is not stingy. It is a love that shares honor, purpose, and kingdom.
Here’s the surprising way God’s love changes this story:
Before asking what John 17:23 means for you, God invites you to worship—to slowly see Jesus the way the Father does: eternally beloved, publicly affirmed, never alone, entrusted with everything. The more clearly you glimpse that love, the more you can later hear: “That’s the love you share in, through Christ.”
CHEW On This™: Let the Father’s Love for Jesus Move From Idea to Awe
Pause at each CHEW step below. Reflect, and answer in your own words—you’ll see a sample below each question. This is where the Gospel gets personal.
Confess
Question: What have you assumed about how the Father feels about Jesus—and how is that different from how you assume He feels about you?
Sample Answer: “I picture the Father delighting in Jesus but mostly evaluating me, watching to see if I measure up.”
Take a moment—how would you answer?
Hear
Question: What does God’s Word reveal about the Father’s love for His Son?
Sample Answer: “John 17:24 says the Father loved Jesus before the foundation of the world, and Matthew 3:17 shows He openly delights in Him. The Father’s love for Jesus is eternal, joyful, and unashamed.”
Which verse anchors you in this moment?
Exchange
Question: If I truly trusted that the Father’s love for Jesus is this deep—eternal, delighted, never withdrawn—how would that shape my view of God’s heart in general?
Sample Answer: “I would see God not as distant or reluctant, but as a Father whose life is overflowing love. His commands and plans would feel like expressions of that love, not tests to pass.”
If you believed this deeply, what would change in how you see God?
Walk
Question: What is one practical step (10 minutes or less) that embodies slowing down to consider how the Father loves Jesus?
Sample Answer: “Today, I’ll read John 17 slowly and write down every phrase that shows the Father’s heart toward Jesus. Then I’ll thank God for what I see—even before applying it to myself.”
What’s one step you can take this week?
Ways to Experience the Father’s Love for Jesus (So Your Heart Can Start to See It)
Here’s how you can actively trust and experience God’s love—not just work harder.
- Linger in John 17 as a “Family Conversation”
Why this helps: John 17 is the Son speaking to the Father about glory, mission, and love. Slowing down there reveals the tone and texture of God’s inner life.
How: Set aside time to read John 17 aloud, slowly. Highlight every expression of love, sharing, glory, and purpose between Father and Son.
Scenario: One evening, instead of skimming, you sit with John 17:10–26, circling “loved,” “given,” “glory,” and “Father.” You begin to see a relationship filled with affection, not cold duty. - Meditate on the Baptism and Transfiguration Voices“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” (Matthew 17:5)
Why this helps: Hearing the Father repeat His delight shows how central this love is.
How: Spend a few minutes visualizing these scenes—hear the tone, imagine the joy.
Scenario: On a commute, you picture the scene at the Jordan: skies open, the Spirit descends, and the Father’s voice rings out—pleased, not reserved. - Pay Attention to How Jesus Talks About the Father
Why this helps: The way Jesus describes the Father shows deep trust and joy.
How: As you read the Gospels, mark every place Jesus says something about the Father’s character, will, or presence.
Scripture: John 5:19–20 shows the Father “shows Him all that He Himself is doing” because He loves the Son.
Scenario: You notice that Jesus calls obedience “doing what pleases Him,” not “avoiding punishment.” The Father’s will appears as a joy, not a burden. - Consider the Cross as Shared Love, Not Just Shared Pain
Why this helps: The Cross is not the Father turning against the Son in disgust, but the Triune God acting in love to save.
How: Read passages like John 10:17–18 where Jesus says, “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life…”
Scenario: Instead of seeing the Cross as the moment when the Father “stops loving,” you see it as the moment when the Son, in love, fulfills the Father’s will—and the Father loves and honors this obedience. - Reflect on the Shared Glory Before and After the Cross“Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.” (John 17:5)
Why this helps: Glory is relational—God is not lonely; He is eternally generous.
How: Meditate on the idea that the Father delights to share His glory, not hoard it.
Scenario: You think about how human leaders often clutch power. In contrast, the Father gives glory to the Son and rejoices in His exaltation. - Pray Prayers of Worship Focused Only on How the Father Loves the Son
Why this helps: Sometimes you need to step out of “application mode” and just worship.
How: Set aside a time of prayer where you do not talk about yourself. Thank God for how He loves Jesus—the trust, delight, unity, and joy.
Scenario: You say, “Father, thank You for the way You love Your Son—for Your eternal joy, Your words of pleasure, Your shared glory.” Your heart expands toward awe. - Sing or Listen to Songs That Magnify Christ
Why this helps: Worship that centers on who Jesus is (not just what He does for you) trains your heart to see Him as the Father does.
How: Curate a short playlist that focuses on Christ’s beauty, relationship with the Father, and His name above all names.
Scenario: On a drive, instead of news or podcasts, you listen to Christ-focused worship, picturing the Father’s joy in the Son. - Let Others’ Love for Jesus Stir Your Own
Why this helps: Hearing how other believers see and worship Jesus can deepen your own appreciation of how worthy He is of the Father’s love.
How: Ask a friend, “What do you love most about Jesus?” Listen carefully.
Scenario: Someone shares, “I love how gentle He is with the weak.” You realize: that gentleness reflects the Father’s heart, and your view of divine love becomes less abstract.
If these practices feel dry or distant, consider seeking conversation with a wise believer, counselor, or CHEW group. Sometimes, old wounds or misconceptions about authority figures make it hard to imagine a loving Father—God patiently works through those layers.
Worship Response: Turn Awe Into Praise
Take 30 seconds—thank God for what His love has done. Worship is responding to His finished work, even when your feelings lag behind.
“Father, thank You for loving Your Son with eternal, joyful, unbroken love. Thank You for letting me glimpse that love in Your Word. Grow my awe for Jesus as You see Him, and prepare my heart to one day rest in the truth that this same love is given to all who are in Him. Amen.”
Next Steps to Grow in God’s Love
Lasting change is always relational—God moves, we respond. Share your reflections with a friend, join a CHEW group, or take one of these next steps:
- Read John 17 slowly three times this week and journal what you see about the Father’s love for the Son.
- Discuss with someone: “What most surprises you about how the Father loves Jesus?”
- Prepare your heart for the next blog: how this same love, in Christ, is directed toward you.
- Read Part 2: how the Father’s love for Jesus applies to you.
For deeper reflection on the “gap” between knowing and experiencing God’s love:
- When CHEW Shows the Gap: What to Do When Seeing God’s Love Leaves You Discouraged
- When Sunday’s Truth Meets Monday’s Reality: The Gap That Changes Everything
- Stuck on the Most Important Question: Why We Struggle to Believe God’s Love Changes Everything
With you on the journey,
Ryan
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