“Think of this — we may live together with Him here and now,
a daily walking with Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.”

Elisabeth Elliot

Jesus gave His life for ALL OF US!! What a huge way to show His love for each and every single one of us. His sacrifice was made out of love. Can you imagine? That, my friends, is some awe-inspiring, phenomenal, insanely HUGE love! Check out John 3:16!

“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.”

John 3:16 (KJV)

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, for our sins, shows us just how deep His love extends and that’s why John 3:16 exists. And, like the song, this is really the only Bible verse needed to explain what God’s Promise of loving us is all about. God loved the world SO MUCH that He made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and all we have to do is BELIEVE. Eternal life is available to all who repent and call upon the Lord’s name. (Romans 10:13)

A PROMISE – God Loves Us!

From the beginning of Creation God’s love for us has been abundantly clear. He created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27), placed us in charge of all He created (Genesis 1:28), and then was able to rest because He saw that His creation was very good. (Genesis 1:31) We are God’s creation, His children! (1 John 3:1) We can be certain that His love for us is as deep as it is wide, because He is the author of love. (1 John 4:7)

There is so much in the Bible that points us towards this mighty promise, and for this devotion I’d like to focus on witness testimony we can find sprinkled through the pages of God’s Word, the B-I-B-L-E.

Exodus 15:13

“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” Exodus 15:13 (NIV)

Bible History Tidbits – The Israelites included this Bible verse in the song of deliverance they sang after crossing the Red Sea while fleeing from the Egyptians. They encountered first-hand God’s mighty hand when He parted the sea and made a path for them to cross through on dry land. This is the unfailing love they sing about in verse 13!

The Israelites worshiped and praised God for leading them out of harms way. A protection that came from the fact that God’s love never fails.

Nehemiah 9:17b

“But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.” Nehemiah 9:17b (ESV)

Bible History Tidbits – This Bible verse is a portion of a prayer said after the building completion of Jerusalem’s wall. Did you know..Back before books were around, stories were passed down from generation to generation?! This was the same when it came to the prayers and history of Israel, and that’s where this prayer came from. The words taken from verse 17 are referring to what God did when He freed the Israelites from the Egyptians and they made their journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Israel’s history was passed down from generation to generation!

These words are just a glimpse of how God shows his never-changing love over and over again to His children. Selfless, genuine, sacrificial love!

Psalm 36:7

“How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.” Psalms 36:7 (NLT)

Bible History Tidbits – David has to be one of the best eye-witnesses when it comes to sharing all of the love God bestowed upon Him and those around him. (Seriously, read all about his praises in the book of Psalms! And, for his story do some digging in 1 Samuel 16:1-1 Kings 2:12.) David was a man who sought after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22) He encountered God’s never-ending love at every turn in his life.

Friends, he was loved by God and he knew it! We can take heart because God is the same God today as He was back when David was around. (Hebrews 13:8)

Isaiah 54:10

“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)

Bible History Tidbits – Isaiah was Judah’s prophet from 740-681 B.C. This verse is found in the second part of Isaiah where he foretells future events. We find prophets hitting the scene while Samuel was judge, the last of the judges and first of the prophets. (Acts 13:17-20) This was before Jesus’ death on the cross, so the veil has not been torn yet and the prophets are the ones speaking to God directly during this time in history.

These words found in Isaiah 54 are directly from God, and because God is the author of truth we know without a doubt His love will NOT be shaken!

Lamentations 3:22

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.” Lamentations 3:22 (NLT)

Bible History Tidbits – Jeremiah, the author of Lamentations, was another one of God’s prophets. (Side note – He is known as the “weeping prophet”. (For more on this make sure to study the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations.) The words written in chapter 3 express Jeremiah’s heartfelt witness about God’s character. Jeremiah grieves alongside God because he knows what the future has in store for those around him yet he expresses a testimony of the faithful love God has for His people in verse 22.

Jeremiah talks of God’s faithful love amidst pain and sorrow. No matter the circumstances God’s love never fades, it remains.

And To Sum Things Up…

All of these verses are intertwined into the stories of God’s people turning away from Him, straying far from His path to follow their own wants and desires, and yet God continually LOVED them with His big ole heart! Believe that when God promises something He sees it through to the very end, no matter how much of our “self” gets in the way. A promise from God is the only assurance our hearts need. All we have to do is walk by faith.

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“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”

Hebrews 10:23 (NLT)

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Dive In Deeper – God Loves Us!

In the Old Testament we looked at eye witness testimony on God’s love from the people living before Jesus came to earth in human form (Philippians 2:7), but I think it’s also important to look at Jesus’ own personal testimony. If you’re thirsting for more dive in deeper by reading through the New Testament stories I have listed below. He promises to love us, and the N.T. shows us even more examples of what His love looks like. When God (a.k.a. Jesus) came to earth, as a baby in a manger, He took on a human body and experienced first-hand what being human is all about. As He breathed the air we do and walked the paths we walk, Jesus LOVED along the way with the same love He promises to us.

Jesus’ love spills over and soaks the first 4 books of the New Testament. A selfless love that’s so abundantly clear! Throughout the N.T. we see Jesus made time for everyone: the sick, the weak, widows, children, sinners, and even those closest to Him. SO. MUCH. LOVE. And, today He’s sitting up in Heaven still love, love, loving away!

For further study, check out these stories found in the New Testament:

Keep Diving – God Loves Us!

Let God’s promises FILL YOUR HEART and don’t stop flooding it with His Word! The verses and stories mentioned above are just a few found in the Bible. I encourage you to find some others on your own. That’s what devotion time with God is all about. Seek out the truth for yourself! Let the Holy Spirit guide you, enjoy the search, and hold fast to God’s promises.