In 2 Corinthians 5:17 the Bible reads that we are “new creations” if we are followers of Christ. Have you ever wondered about the way God feels about you? We can be very hard on ourselves at times. We often struggle with our identity. This week, we’ll turn to God’s Word to find out how He views us and how we can find our identity in Him.

Loved

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”

1 John 4:9-10, NLT

Do you struggle with believing that God loves you just because you are, not because of what you do? This has been a lifelong struggle for me. I grew up thinking God loved me more on the days  I was a good girl, attended church, put a quarter in the offering plate, and didn’t torment my little sister. However, on those days when I was mean to my sister and that Sunday I told my mother that I didn’t want to go to church because it was boring, I envisioned God crossing His arms and shaking His head at me.

He must have been disappointed in me, right? Of course He loved me less on my bad days, right? Wrong! I’m a rule follower, so it’s easier for me to understand the concept of conditional love. Being good equals being loved. That was my understanding for a very long time. Finally, I started comprehending God’s matchless, unconditional love for me. God doesn’t love me because I do. He loves me just because I am.

God’s amazing and unending love for you is already at maximum capacity. He couldn’t possibly love you more (or less) than He does in this very moment. His love doesn’t waver based on your actions or even your attitude toward Him.

We can get stuck in a vicious cycle of attempting to earn God’s love, respect, and forgiveness. The good news is that God doesn’t need us to earn anything. He sent Jesus to earn it for us. Today’s verse in 1 John defines real love as God sending “his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” Even before we loved Him, God made a way for us to be accepted as His loving children.

Learning to receive the love of God is a lifelong journey. Let’s allow God to lavish His affection on us. Another of my favorite verses is Isaiah 62:3 (NIV), which reads: “You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”

Today, remember that your identity is held by God. You are a royal jewel in His hand.

Seeking Him,

Allison