It’s a simple thought, but too often we get busy with our lives and forget it. We get distracted, preoccupied, restless, bored, harried, or hurried.
What is this simple thought?
God loves you.
We think we must do something to earn it or that we don’t deserve it. We hear about God’s love at church and teach it to our kids, but rush on through life without stopping to save the love God has for us.
Let’s explore the different meanings of love found in the Bible and discover the depth of God’s love for each of us.
What is the reason God loves us?
In the beginning of creation, God spoke the world into existence. He strategically created an environment that would sustain life–the heavens and the earth, day and night, water and dry land with vegetation, sun and stars, and living creatures.
Once the environment was complete, God created humans to walk in harmony with Him and take care of the beautiful world. However, Adam and Eve chose their own way instead of following God’s command. Sin and death entered the world, corrupting it.
When the first humans sinned, God could have ended their existence and started again. Instead, He responded with mercy for His beloved creation. God banished them from the Garden, creating a healthy boundary for Adam and Eve.
At first, this action seems unloving, but it actually was an act of love and discipline to protect humanity from living forever with sin in God’s perfect creation. The tree of life is guarded so it cannot be approached until the end of time (Revelation 22:14).
The corruption of sin brought pain and separation from God. No longer did they walk in unity with the Creator. Life became a struggle.
God Loves His Creation
God still loved his creation even though sin now marred creation and life. He didn’t leave His creation alone. Before sin corrupted the world, God already had a plan for the redemption of humanity.
Leaders in the early Church said the first mention of the Gospel is in Genesis 3:15, where God spoke to the serpent (representing Satan). He acknowledged the conflict between humanity and sin, but gave the promise of redemption for humanity through the crushing of the serpent’s head.
God continued interacting with humanity throughout history because He loves His creation.
Today, we live under the impact of sin every day. However, we also live under the impact of God’s love every day–our Creator loves us.
When we wonder “does God love me?”, we can remind ourselves of this love God has for His creation, of which we are part.
Why does God love us unconditionally?
God’s nature is love. Love is not something Go does. Love is Who God is.
Does God love me? Yes He does-He is love.
Does God love you? Yes He does-He is love.
Throughout the Bible, God interacted with his chosen people with discipline and love. He doesn’t give up on humanity despite the many times people turn away from him. This faithful love is the Hebrew word hesed.
Love in the Old Testament–Hesed
The Old Testament describes God’s love as faithful love, or hesed. It is used over 250 times in the Old Testament. Hesed is love that is faithful, reliable, and steadfast, a covenant love that won’t give up. It is used to explain both God’s and human love.
When God passed in front of Moses, he used the word hesed to describe Himself.
“The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, ‘Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! (hesed) I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness’. (hesed).
Exodus 34:6 (NLT)
Other examples of God’s hesed are found in the following verses:
“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love (hesed) for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”
Isaiah 54:10 (NLT)
“Long ago the Lord said to Israel: ‘I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.(hesed) With unfailing love (hesed) I have drawn you to myself’.”
Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)
Throughout the Old Testament, God showed his love through the lives of people–despite their sinfulness and rebellion. When the time had fully come, God sent Jesus, because of his deep love for us.
Love in the New Testament–Agapé
In the New Testament, the love of God is the Greek word agapé. Agapé is unconditional and sacrificial love, originating and flowing from God. It is the highest form of love showed when Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
Other Greek words are used to describe romantic love or friendship love. Agapé describes love from God that displays commitment, faithfulness, and selflessness.
John 3:16 shows us agape love.
“For this is how God loved the world: 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)
When you ever doubt “Does God love me?”, (re-)read John 3:16 to personalize it. Substitute your name in the verse instead of the world and everyone. This will give you the confidence that God loves you.
“For this is how God loved (your name): he gave his one and only Son so that (your name) who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
God loves YOU!
He loves each of us individually, as well as the entire world.
God’s love flows through us
When we are connected to God, His love flows in us through the Holy Spirit. We are incapable of showing agapé love on our own because of our sinful nature. Love flows from God to us.
“For we know how dearly God loves (agapé) us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
Romans 5:5 (NLT)
“But anyone who does not love (agapé) does not know God, for God is love.” (agapé)
1 John 4:8 (NLT)
How does God love me so much?
God saw our need to be reconciled to him. He planned for our redemption and reconciliation, bringing us back into a relationship with Him. He reached down from heaven, sending Jesus Christ out of His deep love for us. Several Bible passages describe this action of God’s love.
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Romans 5:6-8 (NLT)
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!).”
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)
Does God love me no matter what?
At the core of God’s nature is unconditional love, which spills out into every other attribute. It is sacrificial and life-giving, not sentimental and syrupy smooth talk. God loves us when we are helpless or hopeless. He is always there, waiting for us to come to Him. Even on our worst day, God loves us deeply.
Why does God love me even when I sin?
God’s love is unconditional and faithful, combining both hesed and agape love.
The parable of the prodigal son illustrates the faithful love (hesed) of the father who shows unconditional love (agape) to the returning prodigal.
As a parent, I still loved my son when he walked away from his faith for several years. My heart ached because of his decision. I prayed for guidance and words to say to him. God whispered to me, “Just love your son.”
It was challenging, but I had to trust God. I resisted lecturing my son on coming back to God. I learned to love him right where he was.
In time, God orchestrated people in his life that loved our son back into faith. It was a joyous day when he called and simply said, “I’m back.”
Does God really love me?
God’s love and acceptance are given to us when we don’t deserve it. We don’t have to clean up our lives to come to Him. He just wants a humble, repentant heart. He loves us with an everlasting love (hesed) and with A sacrificial love (agapé).
C. S. Lewis said, “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
When I feel lonely, meditating on the love of God comforts me. I know His love and acceptance, believing nothing can separate me from the love of God. The verses on the love of God calm my soul.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”
Ephesians 3:18 (NLT)
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)
Our response to this unconditional love is to accept it. Like an anxious child soothed by the nearness of the parent, my heart rests in the comfort of God’s love, even when my world is spinning.
5 Reasons God loves you
You are God’s Valentine and will forever be. He loves you dearly. Why?
1. Who He is
God loves you because of Who He is. God is love. Love flows from his heart to us; He is the Source of love and cannot contradict his own nature (1 John 4:16).
2. He choose you
God loves you because He chooses to love you and adopts you into His family (Ephesians 1:4-5).
3. He loves His creation
God loves you because you are created in the image of God. God loves His creation (Psalm 139:13-14).
4. He delights in you
God delights in you (Zephaniah 3:17).
5. You are His masterpiece
You are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). No matter what you’ve done or how far you’ve gone away from God, He will accept our repentance of turning back to Him.
Embrace God’s love for you
When I stop to reflect on the depth of God’s love for me, how He sent Jesus to become one of us, and how Jesus carried my sin to the cross and rose from death—I want to open my heart to receive more of God’s love.
This love is not based on performance, or on my striving to do things right, but is purely based on the truth that God loves me, no matter what. Period.
And He loves you too. His arms will open with an embrace for you.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, Creator of the world, I praise you for the beauty and wonder of our creation.
I thank You for Your sacrificial, faithful love shown throughout the Holy Bible.
Thank You for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that demonstrated Your amazing love for me.
I want to open my heart to embrace more of Your unconditional love. Fill me so that I can be a vessel of Your love in the hurting world.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me today and every day.
In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Guest Author: Nancy Kay Grace
Having lived through many life changes in a short period of time, Nancy Kay Grace has learned to look beyond herself to cope with the challenges, especially when she’s had several tongue cancer diagnoses. She is a speaker and award-winning author of The Grace Impact, a devotional about God’s grace.
Nancy is married to her favorite pastor, Rick. They have served in ministry for more than forty-seven years. Now they enjoy the stage of life with two married children and six precious grandchildren.
For relaxation, Nancy enjoys hugs from grandchildren, playing piano, hiking, and travel. For more inspiration from Nance, check out her website. (click here).
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