Topic: You Are the Focus of God’s Love [RICK WARREN Devotional 22 November 2024]
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You Are the Focus of God’s Love
by Rick Warren — November 22, 2024
“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, [God] had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love.”
Ephesians 1:4 (MSG)
Did you know that, when God looks at you, he loves you simply because he made you?
When my three children were small, I would sit by the side of their bed at night and just watch them sleep. I’d watch their chests rise and fall. Because I was their father, I got so much joy out of watching them sleep peacefully.
That’s the way your heavenly Father feels about you.
The Bible says, “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, [God] had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love” (Ephesians 1:4 MSG). Before God even created the universe, he thought of you. In fact, the Bible says that the entire universe was created simply so God could create the human race and love us. We are the focus of his love, unlike anything else in creation.
You were created to be loved by God.
When you let that profound truth sink into your soul, you will never again have a problem with insecurity or low self-esteem. Because when you realize that God created you in order to love you, it will take away all those uncertain feelings.
In Hosea 6:6, God says, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me” (TLB). The most important thing you can know is that God created you to love you. And the most important thing you can do is to love him back. That’s your number one purpose in life.
The tragedy is that most people go through their entire life missing their purpose. They know all kinds of things—stock quotes, sports scores, who’s on the cover of their favorite magazine—but they don’t know God.
You may know about God, but do you know him personally? Do you have a friendship—a love relationship—with God? If not, I encourage you to take that step today.
Talk It Over
- Are you surprised by how much God loves you?
- In what ways does God show his love for you?
- What can you do to develop a deeper relationship with God?
God wants you in his family.
God made you to love you, and one of the places you see that most clearly is on the cross. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God made it possible for you to become part of his family for eternity. No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive.
Are you ready? Here’s a prayer you can start with: “Dear God, I know when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.
“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for everything I’ve done wrong so I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me.
“Jesus, thank you making me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I believe in you, Jesus, and accept you as my Lord and Savior. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
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