The verb “to love” has lost some of its depth with time. We say that we love our parents, love pizza and love this or that character on a television series. Yet, recognizing God’s love for us can change everything!
God offered us his eternal salvation by sending Jesus to die for us. This is, of course, the verse John 3:16 (WEB): “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” When we think about it, it’s indeed an enormous act of love! It took a lot of love from Jesus to give his life, but it also took a lot of love from God to give up his own son for this horrible death.
But his love does not stop at our salvation. Offering us his salvation was already sufficient, was already an act of immense love, but God decided to make us his children! “See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.” (1 John 3.1 WEB)
Why is it so important to remember His love for us?
- When we realize His love for us, we worry less.
If God loves us, He will not let us suffer from any lack. “See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26 WEB) Sometimes we act like spoiled children, and we are angry that God does not give us everything we want at the time we want it. I’m not talking about all our desires, but about all our needs. We must remember that God has thousands of ways to meet our needs. If we know that God loves us, we can be at peace. We know He will not let us be miserable.
- When we realize His love for us, we know we are forgiven.
God sent His only son to die on the cross to save us from our sins. His love for us does not change as soon as we make a mistake. We can trust that if we go our loving Father with a sincere heart, that He will forgive all our sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1.9 WEB) And if we receive his forgiveness, because He loves us, we have no reason to continue to belittle and denigrate ourselves. Let us raise our heads: God loves us and forgives us.
- When we realize His love for us, we know that He is on our side.
God does not approve of everything we do, but His love does not change. When we walk in His ways, we know that God will be our defender, our refuge, our righteousness. “What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8.31 WEB) Knowing that God loves us encourages us to move forward, even when it seems difficult or risky.
- When we realize His love for us, we are able to love others.
God loves us just as He loves our brothers and sisters in Christ, and just as He loves the lost. So if God loves them as much as us, we should have the same feelings toward them. When we know that God loves us, we no longer live in competition with other people around us. Even when our sister gets married, we don’t need to be jealous or angry, because if God loves us as much as He loves her, He will also do it for us. “Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.” (John 15.9-12)
Today, stop and think about God’s love for you. Not only did His love manifested on the cross for your salvation, but His love for you at this very moment! “The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV) Be reassured in His love, be warmed by His embrace, be strengthened by His presence.