Do we really believe that God loves us? That His love is unconditional? That He is love?
It seems to me that if we truly knew He loves us... I mean the kind of KNOW that is unquestioned deep down, no matter what, our lives would be forever changed, and EVERYONE around us would be able to tell.
It's the end of Valentines Day. My husband had to work. I went and did the oh-so-exciting task of buying groceries. We didn't get to be gushy and mushy and romantic. That's okay, because we try to make our lives together special more than one day a year.
But the evidence of Valentine's Day was everywhere. Pink and red candy boxes and balloons and flowers were in every store... Even Aldi's. Instagram and Facebook was filled with pictures of couples. Even Christian radio was advertising "couples" dinner specials at local restaurants.
Love is a beautiful thing.
And God IS love!
He is beautiful! He is amazing!
I heard how God loves me and I think a part of me never truly believed it deep, deep down. I complicated it, placing failed, flawed human standards on His love. My view of God was off. I saw Him often through distorted lenses based on the rejection I had been crushed by over and over, or the abandonment I had lived with for so many years, or the not being enough that I had faced so often.
God is not a man. When we see Him through distorted lenses, we don't see clearly that He Loves Us Unconditionally!!
That realization makes repentance so much easier, because I don't want ANYTHING to stand in the way of me receiving that live. That realization makes praise and worship and prayer a deep, intimate time with the Love of my life, my King, my Treasure, my EVERYTHING. That realization means reading and studying His Word is not just something I do in the hope that I might "get" something out of it. Instead, I DEVOUR the love letters He inspired, longing to know Him more, to feel His love all over again and again.
His love changes those who love Him and draw close to Him. He literally sends His Spirit to dwell in us, a consummation that is all-consuming and more potent than all the cheap imitations the world offers.
I want to think His thoughts and spend as much time with Him as I can and tell Him everything and get His opinion and receive more and more of the love only He can provide. Then, I want to show His love to others. I want to follow the path He places me on, because it leads to more of Him.
Is your life different than those around you? Is it different even from before you knew Him? Are you professing your love to Him one minute, but complaining the next? Are you pushing others away with your negative attitudes and anger, but telling the world you love Christ? (Trust me, Your unsaved loved ones notice.) Are your careful about what you watch on TV or at the movies, knowing He doesn't want you filling your mind and heart with those things? Are you praying about tough circumstances and for tough people, or just grumbling and lashing out?
Knowing deep down that God loves you is life-changing. It's better than any Valentines Day gift or date.
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