John 3:16 (CEB)

16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.


Reflection

“Sociologists have a theory of the looking-glass self. You become what the most important person in your life (wife, father, boss, etc.) thinks you are. How would my life change if I truly believed the Bible’s astounding words about God’s love for me, if I looked in the mirror and saw what God sees?”

Philip Yancey

Happy Valentine’s Day! What better scripture could there be for the day than this simple and timeless message of God’s love for us?

There are so many of us who struggle to believe that we are worthy of love. The world around us often conditions love and acceptance on things like our appearance, age, weight, intelligence, or income. We live in constant fear of being unlovable, to the point where we never feel safe enough to be ourselves.

We all need to believe that there is a bigger story we’re part of – one where we are valued and loved just as we are. It’s a story with implications not only for this life but for eternity.

Preaching God’s love isn’t just good psychology. It’s the truth at the core of human existence: no matter what, we are loved. Remember the old song: “Jesus loves me”? How would our lives change if we really believed it?

By Joe Monahan


For Pondering & Prayer

How does knowing you are loved by God help you to better weather the sometimes uncertain nature of human relationships?

Who taught you about unconditional love? Take time today to reach out and thank that person – through a letter, call, or prayer.