Romans 8: 38-39
When I talk to people about God's love, I tell them that our problem is, we believe that God loves everybody, but we're not sure God loves ME! In response, a lot of people will nod their heads. Inside, you may understand God's loving nature, but you also feel like God has the dirt on you. You may wonder, "How can God love and forgive ME?
This fear of worthlessness can creep into our human relationships, too. I recently read this passage from Mark Groves, in talking about relationships:
Often, we can feel like we don’t deserve to be loved and chosen, and because of that, we accept not being. But remember, when we abandon our needs and our standards, we abandon ourselves.
I believe God's love can transform our lives, but of course, we must have the heart knowledge that God indeed loves ME. The Bible assures each of us that we should feel secure in God's love. As Paul writes in Romans 8: 38-39:
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Remember the Bible story of how God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but then God spared Isaac at the last moment? It struck me recently how this story foreshadowed God's sacrifice of his own son, Jesus. But God did not spare Jesus at the last moment. Why not? Because God loves each of us and desired a sacrifice for our sins, so that we can live with Him and forever feel His love.
So, please believe it. God loves you. God forgives you. God wants a relationship with you. Secure in that knowledge, no matter your background or your past actions, you can realize that you are loved and chosen, you can fully be, and you don't have to abandon yourself in the way you do life with others.
If what I discussed here resonates with you in any way, you will benefit from my book and video series, "Live Like You're Loved." You'll learn the basis of God's love and forgiveness, and how your life can be transformed by following certain steps to embed this knowledge in your heart and in your habits. Winner of the Oasis Award for Christian Nonfiction, the book and video study are available via CecilTaylorMinistries.com. The book is also available through Amazon and other online booksellers.