For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

DAILY DEVOTION, March 11, 2022

We all know John 3:16. Let’s think about the first part of that verse: “God so loved the world.” If you are living in this world, you are loved by God. Do you ever feel unloveable? I do. Sometimes I find myself thinking, “How can God love me. I have failed Him more times than I can remember.” Why does God love us? That’s a difficult question. It has to do with His nature (God is love) rather than our behavior. Our performance is definitely substandard. Still, God loves us. He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to redeem us. This is love beyond anything we can imagine. We often love others if they behave in harmony with how we think they should. Our attitude is “I will love you if….” God’s attitude is, “I love you, period, no strings attached.”

God’s love is truly amazing. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”(Romans 5:8). Did you hear that? God loves you despite your sins. Christ died for us while we were sinners. God did not say to us, “Get your spiritual act together, and then I will  love you.” So how can we not trust and obey a God who loves us so much?

Father God, Your love truly amazes me. Thank You for loving me when I was in rebellion against You. Thank You for saving me despite my disobedient behavior. Help me to respond to Your love with faithful service. I pray in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

PS, Happy Birthday, Marie, and Happy Birthday to my Dad who passed away in 1981.