God So Loved

The word love is thrown around a lot these days. We love a certain food, we love a TV show, or we love summer weather. However, that kind of love pales in comparison to the One who defines love for us—God Himself. We can only love because He first loved us.

It’s the very beginning of that simple gospel verse we are memorizing this week – John 3:16. “For God so loved the world…” We know that God sent His son to save us, but the reason is His love for us. We cannot be rescued without God’s love.

Even though we have messed up, made mistakes, sinned, chosen ourselves over what God has for us, and even turned our back on God at times, He has never stopped loving us. If you feel you’ve gone too far or done too much that God will give up on you, know that it is not possible. You can never and will never do anything that can take away God’s love for you. Isn’t that incredible?

It shows God’s character and heart of love that He could send His own son to rescue a world that is broken. We can mess up a million times and He will still choose to love us. His love is unlike the love we have for that TV show or food. His love is not based on circumstances. God’s love for us is unconditional, eternal, and unlike any form of human love we have ever known or will ever know. It is the deepest, most fulfilling kind of love.

Today when you read John 3:16 again, replace the words ‘the world’ with your own name. “For God so loved _______.” Let that change how you see the heart of God and his love for you.