How Can I Be Sure That God Loves Me?

God loves you. Picture in mind all the ways you can make God love you more. Go ahead. Think about it. What do you come up with?

The truth is you can think all day, but there is not one thing you can do to make God your Creator love you more. That's because he can't love you any more than He already does. He loves you with a forever love. It's a love that goes way beyond any love you could ever imagine or hope for.

LOVE. According to psychologists, the most basic human need is to love and be loved. There is no power greater than love. It can motivate people to do things for others they wouldn't normally do. Some even give up everything for the sake of the one they love.

But if love is such a beautiful thing, so essential to life, why is there so little of it in the world? Why is there so much hate? The answer is simple. True love is more than a sentimental, gushy feeling. Love is a decision, a choice we each must make. The greatest demonstration of love is to give our life for the person we love. God did that. Even before we were born, He demonstrated his great love for us when He gave his only son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so we could have forgiveness and eternal life in him. That is what love is. It gives, selfless, even sacrificially. It unconditionally provides for the one that is loved.

This kind of love comes only from God, for God's very being is love. So when men and women rebel against God by setting up their own value system, rejecting the authority of God, they lose the very source of true love, that is, God.

Away from the source, love becomes temporary rather than lasting. It becomes selfish and demanding. It seeks what it wants rather that the good of the one that is loved. It takes, rather than gives.

But when we connect with God, His love enables us to love others as He loves, even our enemies. We can love others without expecting or demanding anything in return. God's love gives and forgives. It is constant, dependable, and lasting. It fulfills and it satisfies the deepest need.

This kind of love is free and available. We only need to come and connect with God through His son Jesus Christ, and that love will flow freely in and through our hearts to others.

10 Ways To Know If It's Love

• Does not say, "Me first!"
  
• Believes the best about others.
  
• Does not "keep score" of the bad things that others do.
  
• Does not tear down others.
  
• Is not conceited.
  
• Is patient with others, even when they are annoying.
  
• Is not happy when someone gets hurt.
  
• Helps out others, even if it's inconvenient.
  
• Celebrates the successes of others.
  
• Never quits.