STOP, READ and HEAR

“God's Love for You, God's Love for Me"

I pray that you ... may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long
and high and deep is the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:17-19).

When counseling with people suffering from anxiety or depression, I often take them to one of my favorite passages in the Bible: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). I love this verse because it says why we can cast our anxiety on God—because he cares for us. Imagine that! God, the creator of everything that exists, actually cares for you and me!

Do you experience God's love for us? Or do you sometimes think you are all alone in the world? Or that God doesn't love you? If so, you are not alone. Multitudes of people today, Christians and non-Christians, have similar thoughts. This was also true when Paul was alive. Look at what he said when he prayed that the Ephesians would deeply know God's love.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, 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. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:16-21).

The Ephesians did not fully grasp God's love for them. If this is true of you, too, prayerfully study the following Scriptures on God's love for you. As you read, ask God to help you believe and accept the wonders of his mighty love for us.

Accept God's love for us and the new life Jesus offers.

Jesus offers each of us a walk with God and a fullness of life that is not possible without him. As he said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35), and "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He also said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3). Jesus' death, resurrection, and offer of eternal life are the greatest manifestation of God's love for you.

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).

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Love to all in the name of Jesus

Evangelist Rabia Rehmat