Why is it that even though we know John 3:16 by heart, we still doubt God’s love? We think of His love in general terms of loving the world, not specifically for loving us—you or me. Or maybe that God doesn’t like me.
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. Even on our worst day, God loves us deeply.
These verses describe unconditional love as unfailing, everlasting, and sacrificial:
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15
I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Psalm 89:2
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Yet, we get busy and forget those truths, getting frustrated when someone crosses us the wrong way.
We yearn for acceptance, looking for family and friends to extend it to us. Sometimes they meet our expectations and other times they don’t.
The Word of God gives us assurance of God’s unconditional love every day.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present not the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
See what great love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a
The modern day hymn, How Deep the Father’s Love for Us, expresses the unconditional love of God shown through Jesus.
Remember: God loves you more than you can imagine.
