When was the last time that you paused for a moment to reflect on how much God truly loves you? Have you ever attempted to count the ways that God has demonstrated His love toward you? Let’s take a moment to list some major ways. God created man in His image.
Genesis 1:26-27,
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
God breathed into man a living soul, so that man could live for all eternity with Him.
Genesis 2:7,
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
God told Adam that he could eat of all the trees in the Garden of Eden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God also warned Adam of the consequence of eating from this tree.
Genesis 2:17,
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Adam disobeyed God and brought condemnation [that is, spiritual death – eternal separation from God] upon all of mankind. God could have justifiably left mankind in this condition for all eternity. However, because of His Divine love for mankind, God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross of Calvary to pay our sin debt.
John 3:16-17,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Romans 5:8,
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
When you acknowledge the fact that you are a lost condemned sinner, and place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior [that is, receive God’s gift of eternal salvation through repentance and faith], God not only forgives you, He also reconciles you back unto Himself through Jesus Christ – so that you can again live with God for all eternity.
Ephesians 2:8-9,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
John 5:24,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-18,
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
The question must now be asked, “Have you received God’s gift of love [that is, salvation through faith in Jesus Christ]?” If you have not, we pray that you will do so today. Remember God’s eternal promise and warning.
John 3:36,
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
John 8:24,
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
If you have received God’s gift of eternal salvation, are you demonstrating your love toward God for saving your soul? I pray that your daily walk with the Lord brings Him praise!
Galatians 2:20,
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Let us remember that it was [because] of God’s love for the whole world that He sent Jesus His only begotten Son to pay our sin debt. But, it is up to us to receive by faith the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 reminds us,
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Have you received the gift of God’s love?
