Day 6: God, Thank You For Loving Me First!

God is love, and as His beloved child, you are the object of His affection. Even before you were born, before the foundation of the world, He already chose you in Him, to be holy and blameless in His presence (Ephesians 1:4). Because of His love towards you, He has already predestined you for adoption as His child through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5).

Why is this very important to know, especially during times of troubles and turmoil, like what we’re experiencing right now?

Because by His promises, we have the assurance that God, no matter what’s going on in the world, is always for us, with us and in us. Because of His great love for us, He’s fighting our battles, working on our behalf. He’s the ever-present help in time of need. His presence is constant. But He’s also waiting for us to respond to His love. He’s knocking at the door of our hearts, waiting for our reply. The question for you then: Will you let Him in?

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:19

The greatest demonstration of God’s love towards His people is Jesus Christ. God gave up heaven’s best, His only begotten Son, to be like man, to be in the likeness of sin, so Jesus can redeem us from the sting of death and eternal damnation. Jesus took our place of death, so that by His suffering, death and resurrection, we can take His place of victory. So now, for those who are in Christ and are of God, we become children of His, heirs and joint-heirs of Jesus’ victory.

But because the gift of salvation is freely given and cannot be earned, man has to accept it by faith!

If you’ve never responded to God’s love for you or you’ve never received Jesus as your Lord, Savior, and Redeemer, will you invite Him today into your life? Say this prayer:

Father God, I thank you for giving me your Son, Jesus Christ, who took my place of death on the cross, for all my sins. It should have been me on the cross, for the wages of sin is death, but because of your great love towards me – undeserved love – you gave up heaven’s best, to take my place on that lonely tree.

By Jesus sacrifice, death and resurrection, sin has been dealt once and for all, and my sin – past, present and future – has been dealt once and for all. Today and right at this very moment, I receive Jesus as my Lord, Savior and Redeemer! And today, by receiving this free gift of salvation, I share in the promised hope of eternity with you and in your presence forever. I declare, that by new nature in Christ, I also share in all the benefits that Jesus purchased completely by His blood – freedom from sin, guilt and condemnation, close relationship with you, protection from all harm, and provision from any need.

This I pray, in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!

Friend, if you’ve prayed this prayer, you have now become a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old is gone and the new has arrived. You are now of God’s, one of His own. That is now your new identity in Christ! And remember, it is by God’s grace that you’ve been saved, and not by any works.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

As you celebrate your newness in Jesus Christ, after receiving Him as your Lord, Savior and Redeemer, continue to remind yourself about His awesome love towards you. Let the song First Loved Me by Covenant Worship’s David and Nicole Binion help you in this process, the lyrics and music video is included below. Enjoy the new you, and praise and worship God forever!

I can’t forget
I still remember
The place You found me
And I surrendered
When Your grace covered my shame
And saw my need

You gave me hope
Hope and a future
My heart is Yours
Now and forever

I am loved
Only because You first loved me
And I love You
Jesus I love
Yes I love You
Because You first loved me

Your sacrifice
Is overwhelming
Suffered and died
Because You loved me
I’m alive
Only through Christ who first loved me

Nothing can tear me away from Your love Lord
Nothing can separate your heart from mine
Nothing can tear me away from Your love Lord
I am Yours, I am Yours