I John 3:1, 2:  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ² Beloved, now are we the sons of God,

Beloved.  That is how God sees me.  Sometimes I think that this may be one of the most difficult of truths for me to grasp. Some people struggle with where Cain got his wife, but me – I continually stumble over the amazingly simple but complex thought that God loves me.

God’s love is not a generic love that tolerates who I am and rolls eyes at my missteps and antics.  Nor is it an indulgent love that excuses everything I do but can’t stand who I have become.  God’s love is transforming, reaching into the very core of my being to transform who I am, to shape me into the image of His Son.

This Love pursued me when I was putrid and defiled, and He washed me clean with His own sacrifice.  This Love gave up Heaven, allowed the wretchedness of this world to touch His purity, and bore the pain of my sin to save me.  He looked at me from the cross and said “you’re worth it”, for My image is indelibly stamped in your DNA.

Only God has the capacity to truly love each individual.  Only God can fit everyone who comes to Him deep into His heart.  Only God’s love can transform and redeem.  Only God’s love is available for ‘whosover will’.

John 3:16 – 17 – For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.