Does God Really Love? Discovering Your True Value

In a world that often measures worth by accomplishments, appearance, or possessions, it's easy to question our own value. Many of us have wondered at some point, "Does God really love me?" This doubt can creep in when we feel inadequate, unworthy, or burdened by past mistakes. But what if we've been thinking about love all wrong?

There are two distinct types of love we need to understand. The first is a love that values an object because of its inherent worth. This is the kind of love we're most familiar with - we love our homes, our prized possessions, or our achievements because we see them as valuable. But there's a second, more profound type of love: a love that gives value to its object.

Think back to your favorite childhood toy. Maybe it was a teddy bear, a doll, or a beloved blanket. Chances are, it wasn't perfect. It might have been worn, torn, or a bit worse for wear. But you loved it fiercely, didn't you? You gave it a name, carried it everywhere, and cherished it not because it was objectively valuable, but because it was yours.

This is precisely how God loves us. We are His beloved ragdolls - flawed, broken, and wounded. He sees every imperfection, every scar, every secret we try to hide. And yet, His love for us is unwavering and unconditional. It's not a love based on our worthiness, but a love that makes us worthy.

The apostle Paul captures this beautifully in Romans 5:8: "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Before we could do anything to earn it, while we were still in our brokenness, God's love reached out to us. His love doesn't wait for us to become perfect; it meets us in our imperfection and transforms us.

This truth is so powerful that it changed the identity of one of Jesus' closest followers. John, once known as a "son of thunder" for his fiery temper and impulsiveness, came to refer to himself as "the one Jesus loved." His encounter with Christ's unconditional love reshaped how he saw himself.

No matter what labels others have given you, what mistakes haunt your past, or what doubts plague your mind, you need to hear this truth: You are the one Jesus loves. Not because you've earned it, not because you're perfect, but simply because you are His.

The magnitude of God's love is beautifully illustrated in the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus said that if a shepherd has 100 sheep and one wanders away, he leaves the 99 to search for the one that is lost. This is the heart of God - He pursues us in our lostness, valuing each one of us as precious and irreplaceable.

Sometimes, our feelings of unworthiness stem from our awareness of our own sins. We know we've fallen short of God's standard, and the enemy uses this to make us feel unlovable. But God's love operates differently. It's not a love that waits for us to become valuable; it's a love that assigns us value.

The apostle John, the same "son of thunder" transformed by love, wrote: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10). God's love took the initiative, reaching out to us before we could reach back to Him.

As we grapple with the immensity of this love, we must also confront the reality of our sin. Sin isn't a popular concept in our culture, but it simply means missing the mark, falling short of God's perfect standard. And the truth is, we've all done it. But here's the good news: God's love is bigger than our sin.

Paul assures us in Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nothing - absolutely nothing - can sever us from God's love.

This love isn't just a warm, fuzzy feeling. It's a transformative power that gives us a new identity and purpose. Just as John went from being a "son of thunder" to "the one Jesus loved," we too can find our true identity in being loved by God.

So, what does this mean for us today? It means we can let go of shame, regret, and feelings of unworthiness. It means we don't have to strive to earn God's love - we already have it. It means that no matter what we've done or what's been done to us, we are valued and cherished by the Creator of the universe.

The next time you find yourself questioning your worth or wondering if God really loves you, remember the ragdoll. Remember that you are loved not because you're perfect, but because you're His. And in His love, you find your true value.

Let this truth sink deep into your heart: You are the one Jesus loves. Not just in theory, not just as part of humanity in general, but you specifically. You, with all your quirks, flaws, and struggles. You, with your unique gifts and your particular journey. You are loved, valued, and cherished by God.

This is the kind of love that changes everything. It heals our wounds, reshapes our identity, and gives us the courage to live authentically. So today, embrace this love. Let it wash over you, fill you up, and overflow into how you see yourself and others. For in God's love, we find our true worth and our ultimate purpose.