But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NKJV)

Is it safe to say we all desire love? But sometimes love creates pain. For many years, I tried to fill the void in my heart, but I was looking for love in all the wrong places. And not in the face of Jesus Christ. Through those seasons, I never knew Jesus.

Our first source of love should come from our parents. Perhaps you had an absentee parent. Perhaps you had an abusive parent, or another close relative abused you.

When women lack a strong loving home, we often seek love from men.

Perhaps someone stole your innocence. Perhaps someone used you for their sexual gratification, then they treated you like yesterday’s garbage.

Human love will always hurt to some degree. Sometimes it’s merely a disappointment, but you feel the pain. Sometimes it’s a broken family or a broken heart. Sometimes we are left with ugly scars that remind us of a wretched past.

We crave love, but over and over again, love never satisfies us. Why is that?

Because God created us with an appetite for love that will never be fulfilled by anyone except God Himself. When we try to understand God’s love, we must realize we are no longer comparing apples with apples. God’s love is agape love, and it’s nothing like human love.

Even as a Christian, I never fully understood God’s unconditional love. This leaves us vulnerable to the enemy, because he wants us to doubt God’s love. Our focal verse should counteract Satan’s plots.

Let’s look into Strong’s Lexicon * to grasp the Greek definitions for some of these words. “Demonstrate” can be replaced with “prove.” I never asked God to prove His love to me, but just in case I did, He assured me by His sacrifice. No one has ever died for me. No One took my guilt and shame. No one personally paid my sin debt. Only Jesus Christ did that. Only Jesus rescued me from hell’s damnation. Only Jesus loved me enough to die in my place and offered me abundant, eternal life.

When did Christ die for us? When we got our act together? When we were adorable babies? No, it was when we were sinners. When we were detestable.

We can’t stand to be around anything detestable. We sneer our noses. We look away. But not Jesus. He saw us in our detestable sin. He didn’t turn away. He didn’t sneer His nose. Even when we mocked and ridiculed Him, He loved us to the degree that He died a cruel death.

He bore our shame on Calvary’s cross. He bore our disobedience. He watched with compassion as we floundered about seeking love when all He wanted to do was shower His love on us.

Today, I want you to get it, my friend. I want you to look at the proof of God’s love for you. I want you to see yourself as God sees you. Not detestable, not abused, not abandoned, not yesterday’s garbage, not broken and wounded. God sees you as His accepted, beloved, and chosen daughter. See yourself through God’s eyes.

Lord, help me always remember just how deep Your love for me runs. When earthly love disappoints and hurts, remind me about Your agape love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

DIG DEEPER

Read John 3:16 NKJV:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

HIKING THE TRAIL

Replace “the world” with your name in John 3:16.

Related Resource

Discover the many facets of God’s love as your faith grows in Eyes of Faith: Winning the Battle Between Our Feelings and Our Faith. Click here!

* www.biblehub.com

Originally posted on February 15, 2021 @ 3:00 am