By Practical Christianity Foundation (PCF)
Even though we are Christians, at one time or another, most of us come to a point when we wonder if God really loves us. Even when we struggle on issues of faith and life, we still wonder at times whether God really cares enough to love us. We know from the Scriptures That God created all of creation and that He holds everything together and sustains all of creation. We also know that He alone is the sole judge of the eternal destiny of everything including us. However, it seems that these facts simply affirm that He is the Creator and the sole sovereign owner of everything He created. But does He love His creation in general, and us in particular? Yes indeed!
The Bible is filled with teachings, precepts, and firm expressions about God and His love. We know from the Scriptures that love outlives all sentiments and continues on eternally as the defining element of the relationship between God and His people in heaven. Everything else such as hope and faith are fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns to assume His position as the eternal King. But love itself will continue on, as the divine ingredient which holds all relationships together.
God sent His Son to this world of sin and rebellion because He loved the world and determined to save the lost according to His sovereign pleasure. Jesus Christ laid His life down for His friends, whom He called "my sheep", because He loved us all. Jesus exhorted us to love one another even as He loved us. God proved His love toward us in that He purposed, planned, and accomplished our redemption while we were yet sinners and dead in our trespasses.
Jesus tells His disciples that the strongest evidence of their faith in Him and their service to Him is their love toward one another. The Bible unequivocally tells us that, if God's love is not reflected in the words and actions of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, their faith might be false, because those without love do not know God, and His love does not exist in them.
So, while all this is true because the Scriptures teach us so, how is it then that we know for sure that God loves us? There is one key divine fact we must consider in order to understand God's love:
God is love! That is, God is not just merely loving, but He is actually love! Therefore, being love, God expresses Himself as love by redeeming us for Himself as His children saved from His just judgment by His grace. God is love and we are the objects of His love. That is why Jesus prayed "O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." Nothing can separate us from God's love because nothing can take us out of His hands.
So, how do we know that God really loves us? Because He does not lie and He is faithful to Himself. We know that God loves us when His love works in and through us and we exercise godly compassion and care toward others as His love conveys His compassion and care through our words and actions as the reflection of His person and character.
God's love toward us cannot be verified by our sentiments or flawed perceptions. The One Who created us and redeemed us is Himself love and relates to us in His love. Friend, we are not accidents. We are God's loved children. He created us and redeemed us for Himself while we were yet sinners. His Word says He loved us first.
Here at Practical Christianity Foundation we believe that God has mercifully extended His Grace toward us and has given us His living and Holy Word to guide us in our journey in this world. We count it privilege to come alongside you and minister to you through prayer and the sharing of God's living and holy Word. Please contact us if you have any questions concerning your faith and journey as a Christian.
We encourage you to frequently visit our website where you can find weekly devotional readings and helpful blogs.
