HAVE you ever felt truly loved? Like the kind that doesn’t care what you act like or how you look? Not many of us have. But that’s the love God is offering you right now. He says to you, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.” Do you want to feel God’s love everyday, starting today? Hear how Charlotte finally connected to God’s love after years of searching, and how you can too!
Charlotte says: “I tried everything to feel loved. I just couldn’t receive it. I hated myself until God revealed this truth: ‘Before the creation of the world, He CHOSE us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence. Because of His LOVE He had already decided to ADOPT us through Jesus Christ.’” (Ephesians 1)
Can you relate to Charlotte? Do you have trouble receiving God’s love? We hope this next teaching will help you…
GOD ADOPTED YOU IN LOVE
Remember when you took your first step? God does. He knew you even before you were born. And He planned your adoption into His family because He loves you so much. In fact, He traded His own Son, Jesus, in place for you.
Imagine if there was a hostage situation and you and Jesus were at ransom. God let Jesus be captured so that YOU could go free: “For God so loved the world [read: YOU] that He gave His only Son, that if anyone believed in Him, they wouldn’t die but would have eternal life” (Jesus). What? God gave up His own Son? Yes, but God knew that He would raise Jesus back to life, and He will raise you back to life too, if you trust in Him. In fact, trusting Jesus is what made God adopt you into His family. And once He adtopts a child, He NEVER lets them go.
Here’s what God wants you to know about Him TODAY:
- God lovingly made you: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb” (Jer 1:5)
- God adopted you when you trusted Jesus: “He gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who believed in Him” (John 1:12)
- God will never quit on you: “"I will never fail you or abandon you" (Heb 13:5)
- God gave you eternal life: ”God gave us eternal life…in his Son” (I John 5:11)
GOD’S LOVE IS LIKE…
What is God like? Is He the type of Father who only loves you if you’re perfect? Or will He love you *no matter what*? What you were like when God picked you answers that question. The Bible says, “God proved His love for us in that, while we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us.” At your WORST is when God chose you. So if He chose you at your worst, you can know that He will carry you through everything else.
WHAT HELPS ME TO RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE…
Tip #1- Time with other believers.
Talk to people who know and love God. He pours rich life into us through them.
Tip #2- Reading the Bible.
Trust that what God says about Himself applies to your life. Remember it each morning and walk in faith each day.
Tip #3- Worship.
Singing to God about His amazing qualities invites His precious presence.
Doesn’t it feel good to connect with God in worship? It’s such a great way to finish the lesson. Here’s the last thing we’d love to leave you with… You can pray this prayer out loud, and write your own prayer in the comments:
Dear Father, Thank you for loving me no matter what. There is no one greater than You. Help me to accept myself like You accept me. Help me to love others like You love them today. Amen!