LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Monday 14th February 2022
LOVE DIVINE
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) Ephesians 2:4–5
God loves us. That is the theme of the Bible. God loves us so much that He created us. He loves us so much that He has given us the freedom to choose whether we would love Him back or not. God’s love for us is so strong that when we turned away from Him, He came looking for us. God’s love for us is a love divine, all loves excelling.
Many people simply can’t believe that the Lord loves them. Others believe that He loves them, but only when they are pleasing Him in some way. Why is it so hard for us to accept God’s unconditional love?
Many times, we see God’s love from our human point of view. We might say the words “I love you” to our spouse, children, friends, co-workers, or fellow believers but all too often, we’re calculating in our minds whether or not they’ve lived up to our standard. Sometimes, we excuse ourselves from loving certain people because their behavior upsets or annoys us. The fact that we place restrictions on showing love to others, causes us to wrongly assume that the Lord does likewise.
God showed the depth of His love for us through Christ Jesus. When we were dead in trespasses and sin, Christ laid down His life for us. He went to the cross for a people who hated and reviled Him.
You know what? None of us are worthy of the Heavenly Father’s goodness and mercy. We’re not coming to Him based on our worth. Rather, we come to Him based on His grace and love. Our position is secure in Christ.
If you feel unloved or struggle to accept yourself, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of our Heavenly Father’s love for you—and to sink it deep into your heart. Receive the truth that He reveals. God loves you and wants to have a close relationship with you. Are you ready to truly know Him?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I accept your love for me. Thank you for showing me mercy and kindness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.