God Loves You This Much

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES The Keys to a Blessed Life   God Loves You This Much By Rick Warren — Oct 8, 2015 “God is love.” (1 John 4:8b NIV) The Bible says God is love. It doesn’t say God has love; it says God is love. Love is his nature. God is love.   God created the entire universe. He created this planet; he created the human race; then, he created you because he loves you. God created you as an object of his love. He made you so he could love you and so you could love him. God’s love for you is the reason your heart is beating right now; it’s the reason you’re breathing. God’s good news is that he loves you on your good days as much as he loves you on your bad days. He loves you when you can feel his love, and he loves you when you can’t seem to feel his love. He loves you whether or not you think you deserve his love. There is nothing you can do that will make God stop loving you. You could try, but you simply can’t do it, because his love for you is based on his character and not on anything you do or say or feel. God loves you so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus, into this world, “so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NLT, second edition). Jesus stretched his arms out as wide as the cross, saying, “I love you this much! I love you so much it hurts. I love you so much I’ll die for you so that I won’t have to live without you.” God’s love surpasses all human knowledge, and it is difficult for any of us to grasp the width and length and height and depth of his love for each one of us (Ephesians 3:17-19). PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over How should a deep belief and confidence in God’s love for you change the way you live your life? Why do you think so many people have a hard time accepting God’s love? What can you do to show God that you love him? Today’s Scripture “Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8, ESV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Take Refuge in Him Where do you take refuge when the storms of life come? Where do you go for comfort and safety? Some people find it easy to turn to their friends, their job, or even a bowl of ice cream. There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but God wants us to turn to Him first. He wants us to take refuge in Him. He longs to protect us, defend us and give us His strength. We serve a good God, and when we take refuge in Him, He will pour out His abundant blessing in our lives. Taste and see that the Lord is good, and His promises are good. When you turn to God, the Bible promises that you will find rest and refuge for your soul. No matter what you may be facing today, come to the Father. He will give you His peace and strength as you take refuge in Him. A Prayer for Today “Father, today I open my heart to You. Thank You for Your peace and rest and for showing me Your hand of blessing as I take refuge in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”