There are many different types of loves. There’s the love of parents, or a husband or wife, or a friend. We may not experience them all, and we definitely won’t experience them all in the same way. But whichever we experience, there’s one thing that we’ll all have in common. Human love is flawed. People make mistakes, feelings change, commitment is avoided, jealousy and selfishness creep in, and insecurity creates fear and lack of trust. But love is something we all long for. And we have access to a perfect, unflawed love which can satisfy us. This love is so powerful that there’s no fear in it: ‘God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them…there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear’ (1 John 4:16;18 NIV). So powerful that it’s ‘as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave’ (Song of Solomon 8:6 NIV). And this kind of jealousy doesn’t stem from insecurity but from a desire to be the only One you need. This is God’s love. And He offers it to us all. However hurt we’ve been by flawed, human love, His love can comfort us and mend our broken hearts. He wants us to feel the power of His love. We can still show love to others, but loving Him, and being loved by Him, comes above everything. And the amazing thing is that nothing can ever separate us from this love. ‘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’ (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).

What now?

Ask God to give you a fresh awareness of His love for you today.