It's a Gift
Our efforts to be more Christlike begin with us understanding the great power of love. Great because God is love and powerful because it is our strongest weapon. In the Amplified Bible, Paul describes love as "that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for us and in us" (1 Cor. 13:1) and he defines it as "true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us" (1 Cor. 13:13).
Before we can love God or another person for that matter, we have to receive for ourselves the love God has for us.
God loves you.
God's love for you is demonstrated by the life and death of Jesus Christ.
For God loved the world so much that he gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NLT
The gift of God's love - Jesus - was given to us long before we were in this world. It was given then just as personally as it is right now. God loves you. He has always loved you and He always will. Jesus was thinking about you as He hung on the cross. He loved you so much that He gave His life so that yours could be spared.
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.
John 15:23 Amplified
Jesus gave His life for you. Because He loves you. A LOT.
God loves you just as you are. Even in the mess, guilt, and shame you may be carrying - He loves you. Your sins were no surprise to Him. Jesus' blood was shed to cover them all. The love of God for you that was poured out in blood by Jesus covers your sins and removes their debt. That is how much God loves you.
It took me many years to really accept the truth that God loves me because all I could see were my many sins. I refused to believe that God, Who is so perfect and Holy, could love anyone as messed up as me. But He did and He does. The day I accepted this truth in my heart was a bench mark moment in my life. As my heart embraced and welcomed God's love for me, my life began to change. Things looked different and I began to respond differently to people and situations.
I urge you today to spend some time, a lot of time, reading and thinking about how much God loves you. Let it soak into your heart and keep it in the front of your thoughts. Identify all the ways that God has personally revealed to you the gift of love. Write them down if you can. Take the time to really grasp and hold on to God's love for you.
Love is a gift given to us by God through Jesus Christ.
Heidirn
Before we can love God or another person for that matter, we have to receive for ourselves the love God has for us.
God loves you.
God's love for you is demonstrated by the life and death of Jesus Christ.
For God loved the world so much that he gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NLT
The gift of God's love - Jesus - was given to us long before we were in this world. It was given then just as personally as it is right now. God loves you. He has always loved you and He always will. Jesus was thinking about you as He hung on the cross. He loved you so much that He gave His life so that yours could be spared.
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.
John 15:23 Amplified
Jesus gave His life for you. Because He loves you. A LOT.
God loves you just as you are. Even in the mess, guilt, and shame you may be carrying - He loves you. Your sins were no surprise to Him. Jesus' blood was shed to cover them all. The love of God for you that was poured out in blood by Jesus covers your sins and removes their debt. That is how much God loves you.
It took me many years to really accept the truth that God loves me because all I could see were my many sins. I refused to believe that God, Who is so perfect and Holy, could love anyone as messed up as me. But He did and He does. The day I accepted this truth in my heart was a bench mark moment in my life. As my heart embraced and welcomed God's love for me, my life began to change. Things looked different and I began to respond differently to people and situations.
I urge you today to spend some time, a lot of time, reading and thinking about how much God loves you. Let it soak into your heart and keep it in the front of your thoughts. Identify all the ways that God has personally revealed to you the gift of love. Write them down if you can. Take the time to really grasp and hold on to God's love for you.
Love is a gift given to us by God through Jesus Christ.
Heidirn
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