How marvelous is the love of God! Someone has said, "The biggest thing with which the mind can cope is the infinite love of God." But is it really true that "God so loved the world"? With the colossal dimensions of the universe, why would Creator-God make this world the object of His supreme love? Even more, could He possibly love you, and me?

Perhaps you have heard from a youth the oft-repeated fact that "Jesus loves me," but it has had no effect on you personally.

Though we can never take it all in, our heart can experience God's love and rejoice in it. In eternity past "before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24) this love was hidden in the "bosom of the Father" (John 1:18), known only by His eternal Son. When God sent His Son into the world, it was revealed not only that "the Father loveth the Son" (John 3:35; 10:17), but that He also loves everyone in the world with the same love as He loved His Son (John 17:23).

God gave His beloved Son for us, that we might be brought to Jesus' bosom as disciples whom Jesus loved (John 13:23; 21:20). Not only are we, like the Son, objects of the Father's love, but the Son also loves us "as the Father hath loved [Him]" (John 15:9). What a circle of love!

Just think of it! God repeatedly says to you and to me, "I love you." May this amazing truth grip our souls, especially when we realize that His only Son is the measure of His love to us.

Truly "God is love" (1 John 4:8) in the very essence of His being, and He proved His love beyond a shadow of a doubt when He "sent His Son to be the propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

God's love is defined by its actions. Some say "Love is God," but love does not define God; rather, God defines love, for "Love is of God," and "God IS love" (1 John 4:7,8).

The divine agape love of God is self-sacrificing and giving on behalf of others, whether it be for the world (John 3:16), the individual (Galatians 2:20) or the church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:25). This selfless love is so different from natural, human love. God loves even His enemies, and the most undeserving sinner. He loves because He is love. The cause is in Himself.

"The God of love" (2 Corinthians 13:11) did not close His eyes to our sins. "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Have you received God's love and been "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6)? If not, spurn no longer His tender efforts to draw you to His bosom. Come to Him now just as you are, believing Christ died for you. To now refuse God's love is to later know His righteous judgment for sins in eternal separation from the God of love.