He loves every person on earth with that deep, personal love. So, during this sacred season, I want to encourage you to reflect on the depth of God’s loves for you.
I remember when I was in 6th grade I entered a raffle at a local surf shop to win a brand new long board worth over $400. Tickets were $5 a piece and I figured it would boost my chances if I bought a few tickets. I did not have a lot of money but I spent $50…everything I had. If I had more money, I would have spent more money. I really, really wanted that longboard!
A few weeks go by and my mom answers the phone, and turns out I won the board! What was interesting though is there were 10 entries. Tickets were $5. I spent $50. I was the only person in that raffle. I think it speaks a lot to how we view God and how God views us.
We all get caught in the trap of “increasing” our chances of earning God’s love. We do well to others, we try stay away from curse words, go to church and hope that we can gain God’s love. It logically makes sense: we give our best and God will love us. We increase our chances, and maybe we’ll win. That might work in a raffle, but not in the heart of God.
Isaiah 49:16 says this: “Indeed, I have inscribed a picture of you on the palm of my hands.”
God has your face on the palm of His hands. Let that sink in. Psalm 139:17 says that God is thinking of you every single moment! God is obsessed with you. He’s so obsessed that He sent His son to die for you.
The craziest thing to grasp is how personal His love is for you and me. Just like how I was the only person in the raffle, God loves you like you’re the only one on earth. His love is so great and personal, that He loves each and every person on earth like they were the only ones there.
When Jesus died on the cross, He did not think of the world as a whole. He thought of every single soul He was saving through His suffering. The pictures engraved on the hands of God are not pictures of your family. It’s pictures of you, your spouse, your child, your mother, your father, etc. I really believe He looks at each picture individually, and does not think of who you are associated with. He thinks of you and how much He loves you.
God does not love the groups or organizations you are a part of. He loves you. He loves every person on earth with that deep, personal love. So, during this sacred season, I want to encourage you to reflect on the depth of God’s loves for you. Understand that you were not just included by association. God delights in you. Jesus came to defeat sin, death and shame because He loves YOU.
*written by Chris Alvarez
Family Worship Center Devotionals 