Do You Know How Much God Loves You?

Eighteen years ago, a wondrous thing happened.

On a torrential Valentine’s Day, in a small church in Southern California, I walked down the aisle and pledged my love and my life to a man I was ready to spend the rest of my days with.

As part of our wedding ceremony, I spoke these words to my husband from the Book of Ruth:

Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. – Ruth 1:16

Making a commitment to love someone isn’t always an easy thing. In our culture, we associate Valentine’s Day with all of the external trappings of romance. But life-long love between a man and a woman requires much more than chocolate, flowers and romantic dinners.

Love involves self-sacrifice, trust, and faith in an unseen but ever-present God.

Love is not for the faint of heart. Do you know what the Bible says about love?

Love is patient,love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, It is not easily angered,it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evilbut rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts,
Always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.– 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

As you can see, God gives us a high standard to live up to when it comes to love!

Love isn’t just about finding someone who will make us happy. Love is also about finding someone we are willing to lay down our lives for, just as Jesus lay down His life for us. (1 John 3:16)

Whoever You Love Most In This World – God Loves You More!

When my husband and I met, we lived on opposite sides of the country. As we corresponded and spoke with one another by phone, we knew from the start that if we wanted our relationship to grow – if we envisioned a life together – it would require huge sacrifices on both of our parts in order for things to work.

From the beginning of our relationship, we prayed. We sought counsel. We asked God if it was in His perfect will for us to move forward – and if so, in what time frame.

Eventually, circumstances made the path clear. To move our relationship to the next level, I moved over 3000 miles to begin a new life. I sold my home and left my family, friends, church and career behind.

I took a leap of faith into our future.

Adjusting to a new life wasn’t easy – but it was a sacrifice I willingly made to be with the person I loved.

Marrying my husband was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Every day, in so many ways, he demonstrates to me how much he loves me.

Lately, God has laid an even more amazing truth upon my heart.

As much as my husband and I love one another – God loves us even more!

Think about that for a moment, and embrace that truth, because it applies to you as well!

As much as you love your spouse and your children – and as much as they love you in return – your love for one another cannot begin to compare with God’s love for you!

Here are a few things that the Bible says about the depth of God’s love for us:

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. – John 3:16

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

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. – 1 John 4:10

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. – John 15:13

We love Him because He first loved us. – 1 John 4:29

God’s love for us is so great that it’s difficult for human minds to grasp!

How Can You Better Understand the Depth Of God’s Love?

Would you and your family enjoy reading an inspiring book that helps you to understand just how much God loves you and the lengths He has gone to in order to demonstrate His love to you?

Right now I’m immersed in The Story Of God’s Love For You by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This book portrays the Bible as a love story about a brave Prince from a faraway country who leaves behind His palace, His throne – everything – to rescue the ones He loves.

If you are a fan of The Jesus Storybook Bible, then you will love The Story Of God’s Love For You, which is basically the same narrative as The Jesus Storybook Bible, but written for all ages to enjoy!

The Story Of God’s Love For You is a wondrous book of stories that’s better than any fairy tale you’ll ever read because each of the stories within the greater story are true!

Here’s a peek at The Story Of God’s Love For You

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Your Turn

Do you grasp just how deeply God loves you? Is it easy or difficult for you to feel worthy of God’s love? When you read the Biblical definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, which aspect of love is the most difficult for you to demonstrate towards others? Please share your thoughts in the comments!