The Bible is full of verses talking of God's love for us
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a … sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10).
"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
"To him (Jesus) who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ... to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen (Revelation 1:5,6). (Word in italics is added.)
Jesus gives us assurance of God's love
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message that all of them may be one. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:20,23).
Jesus has compassion for us
The love and compassion that Jesus has for us is beautifully shown when the teachers of the law and the Pharisees want to stone the woman caught in the act of adultery.
Jesus challenged her accusers: "If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). After each of them left without throwing a stone, Jesus said to her, "'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'
'No one, sir,' she said.
'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus replied. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.' (John 8:10,11).
God cares for us
From the start to the finish, the Bible repeats the powerful message that God cares. God knows all the stars by name (Psalm 147:4). He calls His sheep by name (John 10:3). He is the shepherd who even misses one lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7). God is like the housewife who searches for the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10). He is the father who mourns for the son who is wasting his life (Luke 15).
"Of all the children in the world" says Jesus "It is not the will of our Father that one should be lost" (Matthew 18:14). God is a Father and the essence of Fatherhood is individual care lavished on each child. St. Augustine, puts it beautifully when he said, "God loves every one of us as though we are the only one to love."
The devil wants us to doubt God's love for us
Accepting the truth of God's amazing love for us will not go unchallenged. The forces of evil will try to convince us that we are alone, unloved and too unimportant for God to care for us. Thoughts that doubt God's love for us may come in the form of "Look at the universe and how vast it is. Among all the millions of stars you are less than a grain of sand. God hasn't time for you." Psalm 8:3,4 poses a question. "When I consider your heavens, the work of our fingers, what is man that you are mindful of him?" To our human minds, there is a troubling difference between the vastness of the universe and our smallness.
Size and value
The answer to our doubt comes by asking ourselves a vital question. Since when have we judged comparative value by size? Would we choose a 50-cent instead of a $2 coin because it is larger? A mother's love is not a matter of grams. What is more important our soul or the entire universe? Jesus answers this question when He says, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:34). God created us and knows what is important and what is unimportant. We need to continue to see things as God sees them.
Pour out your heart in gratitude of His love
Though pray we must worship God and be confident of His love for us. Listen to King David's confidence when he says: "My soul, wait in confidence for God only. For my expectations will come from Him. Only He is my rock and salvation. He is my defence. I will not be moved. With God is my salvation and glory. The rock of my strength and my refuge is in Him. My people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him. He is a refuge for us all" (Psalm 62:5-8).
Prayer is a powerful force and a privilege
Even in our darkest hours of trial and hardship, God's love will always burn for us.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).
When we study the lives of people of faith we invariably see prayer as part of a vital, sustaining and loving relationship with God. Prayer is a powerful force and a privilege.
PRAYER
Father, your love is bigger and greater than my mind can ever conceive. I am overwhelmed that I am the object of your unconditional love and that you have so much joy loving me. Help me to love you as you love me.
