Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Unbelievable Truth: God Really Loves You

Unbelievable Truth: God Really Loves You

Last updated on: January 12, 2018 at 11:12 pm by Keith Giles

Unbelievable Truth: God Really Loves You 2018-01-12T23:12:28+00:00 Keith Giles

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Image: Pixabay

God’s love for mankind is an incredible thing. The scriptures are replete with example after example of God’s endless declarations of love for every single person on the planet.

Usually, these statements are about nations, or about general populations of people, but Jesus goes even further with this idea and affirms that God actually loves each of us individually.

This is why Jesus urges us to call God our “Abba” or “Daddy” when we pray. It’s why Jesus says that “God so loved the whole world” (and that means you and me) that He sent Jesus to give us life and set us free.

Paul the Apostle even encouraged all of us to meditate on God’s incredible love:

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

God’s love is wider than we can imagine. It’s longer than we can comprehend. It’s higher than we can reach. It’s deeper than we can fathom. God’s love surpasses knowledge. This means it’s more than just information. It’s actually too great for us to wrap our minds around. It means that if you had all the knowledge in the Universe you’d still not be capable of fully knowing God’s amazing love for you.

God made you in His own image. Just think of how that makes Him feel every time He looks at you. [Genesis 1:27]

His thoughts about you are more numerous than all the grains of sand on all the beaches on this planet. He is actually thinking about you. Right now. [Psalm 139:17-18]

God is singing over you. Right now. Just try to imagine what His voice sounds like as He opens His mouth and sings a song of love about you. [Zeph. 3:17]

God loves you so much that He would rather die than live without you. How amazing is that? [John 3:16]

The only thing more amazing than God’s awesome love is this: The fact that you and I can take it for granted, or not fully receive it.

Most Christians don’t really go through their lives with the awareness of God’s astounding love in their hearts. Instead, they walk around looking tired, or feeling empty, or stressed out; totally oblivious to the endless showers of love that God is pouring down over them night and day.

I think I understand why we don’t believe that God loves us like this. It’s because deep down inside we’re convinced that we don’t deserve that kind of love, and certainly not from someone as Holy and Perfect as God.

But that’s the whole point of God’s love: It’s ours, and we have it now, and nothing can ever change that.

If you have children of your own, you can understand this. No matter what mistakes your child makes, you will always love them. No matter what awful things they do, you will still call them your son or daughter. Your love is not conditional on their performance, or lack thereof.

God looks at you and His heart is full of love. He loves to hear your voice. He loves to know our thoughts. He longs to reveal more of Himself to you.

God is love, and His love endures forever.

Now, just imagine if Christians really did believe that God loved them? Wouldn’t they be happier? Wouldn’t this love fill them up and spill out of them like light from under a basket?

Wouldn’t this love make it easier to forgive those who hurt us most?

Wouldn’t a greater awareness of God’s unconditional, endless, boundless and fantastic love change us forever? Wouldn’t this love help us to love others more?

I do believe so. But, there’s only one way to find out.

Keith Giles is the author of several books, including “Jesus Untangled: Crucifying Our Politics To Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb.” He’s also the co-host of the Heretic Happy Hour Podcast and lives in Orange, CA with his wife and two adult sons.

Following Jesus

General Christian Topics

Previous Post

January 10, 2018

Here's Why We Keep Having Arguments Online

Next Post

January 15, 2018 10 Reasons To Stop Tithing

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Biblicism Christian Politics Cosmic Christ Deconstruction Discipleship Dispensationalism Divine Unity Ekklesia End Time Stuff Eschatology Evergreen Following Jesus Gender General Christian Topics Gnostics God's Love Gospel of Judas Gospel of Mary Gospel of Philip Gospel of the Kingdom Gospel of Thomas Gospel of Truth Hell Historical Jesus Inner Circle Investigative Reporting Islam LGBTQ Issues Marriage Mental/Emotional Health Mystery Non-Duality Philosophy Podcast Poetry Politics Poverty Preemptive Love Prophecy Psychology Quantum Theology Racism Reconstruction Satire Sex Technology Theology Uncategorized Universalism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who did Jesus raise from the dead after four days?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Lazarus Widow's son Himself Jairus’ daughter

Books by This Author Books by Keith Giles

See All Titles »