February 20 – God Loves You

February 20 – God Loves You

“The Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father” (John 16:27-28).

Do you know that you are loved by God?

Now, if you have said yes, what does that look like in your life?

This is a love like you can’t imagine. It is complete. You can’t do anything in order to make Him love you more and on the flip side, you can’t do anything to make Him love you less.  The love God has for you is found in its fullness … at this moment.

Every breath you take, everything you do … God loves you.

This is hard for so many of us to comprehend because we base our love for others on so many other criteria.  We can’t imagine how God could love a murderer or a child abuser or the bully or the one who hurts those we love.

On the other hand, we figure He has to love the woman who slanders our name in church or the couple who gambles their entire life savings away.

We’re sure that He loves the pastor or Sunday School teacher or the person who cares for others.

We don’t understand an all-encompassing love like that which comes from God.  It is fully complete and it is given to everyone, whether we like it or not.  It seems that God doesn't need our approval to love.

Just as we choose to love those who do good things or who are family members or who are our friends, we believe God should make choices about whom He loves.  He doesn't.  He is love.

Now, as for those who murder or abuse or hurt people, even those who are slanderers or find enormous ways to sin, God’s love is tempered with justice.  His love for them may remain, but the judgment that comes from the throne for those who refuse to repent and believe in Jesus Christ promises to be great.

But, maybe we should be less choosy about who we love.  Maybe God calls us to love even the murderers or slanderers or abusers or the bullies, because maybe we might be the catalyst for them to find a way to love Him and be transformed.