“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”John 3:16 (NIV)
Not only does God see you as acceptable and valuable—he also sees you as deeply lovable. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).
The verse doesn’t say God loves only beautiful, intelligent, or perfect people. It says God loves the world—all of us. That includes you. Jesus essentially said, “I’d rather die than live without you.” That’s how much God loves you.
Isaiah 54:10 says, “‘The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end. . . . ’ So says the LORD who loves you” (GNT).
God’s love has two key characteristics you must never forget:
God’s love is consistent. God isn’t moody or fickle. His love doesn’t depend on good or bad days. A woman once shared how her mother’s moods kept her guessing—one day she’d get a hug from her, the next she’d be ignored or worse. God’s love isn’t like that. He loves you with unchanging, steady affection every single day.
God’s love is unconditional. God’s love doesn’t say, “I love you if . . . ” or “I love you because . . . ” Instead, God’s love says, “I love you. Period.” His love isn’t based on your performance; it’s based on his character. God’s love says, “You’re mine. I made you. I saved you. I redeemed you. I want you with me forever.” God’s love is absolute and doesn’t change. You’ll never need to earn it.
Doubting God’s love leads to trouble. In fact, every time you sin, it’s because you doubt his love and think you know better than he does. For example, when God says to keep sex within marriage, it’s not because he’s restrictive—it’s because he loves you and knows what’s best. But when you choose to step out of his plan and follow your own way instead, you doubt his love and often experience the painful consequences of your sin.
You can build your life on these two truths: God loves you consistently, and he loves you unconditionally. He will never stop loving you, no matter what. That’s a foundation you can trust forever.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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