LOVE.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, WHO LOVED ME and gave himself for me. -Galatians 2:20

But God demonstrates HIS OWN LOVE for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8

This is love: not that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. -1 John 4:10

And so we know and rely on the LOVE GOD HAS FOR US. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. -1 John 4:16

For 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


Notice a theme? I hope so.

I was sitting outside reading Chapter 3 of "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper, basking in the beautiful rays of the sun...hoping to hear from my Love. See, lately I have been struggling with feeling His presence, and it has been my prayer request to feel Him as I have before. Anyways, as I'm nearing to the end of the chapter I come across the top verse listed, Galatians 2:20, I stopped and let this word "love" sink in.

Yes, the four-letter-word that supposedly holds so much meaning, right? I have struggled with this word as of late, because I feel like we toss it around without counting the heaviness it truly holds. LOVE. Why does God's love for me not HIT me like it should? I want it to rock my world, give me comfort, amazement, butterflies, contentment.

I'm in love with my boyfriend. I feel loved by him. I feel pursued by him. This love is real to me, it comforts me. I delight in it. There is a connection there. But it can't save me, nor will it.

HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD I FEEL LOVED AND PURSUED BY THE ONE WHO CREATED ME, DIED FOR ME, AND LEADS ME TO GOOD THINGS IN THIS LIFE? Oh, the love of God.

You know, I still don't understand this love, but the Bible talks about it all the time. I want to seek to know this love more and more. I want to believe it. I want to reciprocate it. (Though I will never be able to in comparison to my God.) He loved me when I didn't even want anything to do with Him. He loves me still when I fall short of His perfect standard. He loves me though I am just one of six billion. He delights in me, He provides for me, He rejoices over me, He saved me. And I get an eternity to bask in His love, something that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived.

Let this love penetrate your soul.