Loved

God loves me.

That is such a powerful thought. There are so many dynamics to that thought. So many things that are contrary to what worship and service of a god of any other sort reveals itself to be. So many things that are contrary to what this world believes love to be.

• First of all, He is capable of loving me in perfect purity. When I think of the gods of mythology or even the false gods of Scripture, any love expressed was self-centered or physical. There is no god represented in any religion of this world who is capable of pure love. But He is!

• Because of God’s purity and perfection, however, justice could easily allow Him to withhold His love from me. I am so dirty. I am so impure. I am so sinful. He could just demand my submission, service, and worship without offering me any love – or anything, for that matter. Simply because He, and He alone, deserves it. He is worthy of it. It is not selfish in any way. It’s just truth. He does command that I do those things, but He offers a foundation of perfect love and forgiveness from which I can submit, serve, and worship Him. His commands and demands are always bound up in His perfect love. We might not see it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

• Yet He goes even further. He has somehow engineered the submission, service, and worship that He commands to be for my good. Oh wow! With such an amazing foundation of love, it is more than enough that my actions can even begin to honor Him. But, to benefit me as well? That’s almost too much for my heart to grasp! He blesses and grows me as I honor Him through my life. My cup truly does overflow.

As I ponder this reality, I want to crumble under the realization of how often I buck against His love. Yet He continues to love me lavishly, abundantly, and powerfully. He continues to discipline and grow me. He continues to show me that responding to His love truly is to my benefit, even when it seems to be so difficult. I am His bond-servant. I am indebted to Him for eternity. And yet He adopts me. He makes me His child and loves me. The GOD of gods actually loves me!

And He loves you, too.

Let that sink in. And then may that truth dictate how we live and walk today.