“For God so loved the world” is the opening of one of the most famous scriptures ever shared.
Many believe this verse to be true…that God loves the whole world. Do you believe that? Do you believe that He doesn’t love just the people you and I encounter, but he loves the people in India, Kenya, South Sudan, and in every single nook and cranny of the world? Do you believe that there are no exclusions or no fine print to God’s love for His people?
This time of the year, we sing songs about God’s love for the world and His creation. We celebrate who He is and how His birth changed the world. Although it’s a time to celebrate and be filled with joy, it lacks its luster for people dealing with great heartache and loneliness during Christmastime. It begs those hurting to look inwardly and ask the question “Does God love everyone?” and most importantly “Does He love me?”
A few years ago, I met a child at a detention treatment and shelter care center who was asking questions of God’s love for him. He was doubting God’s love for him, just like many of us do. As I sat with him he asked, “If God loves me, why haven’t my parents come to see me?” Why wouldn’t his parents come see him? I am sure there was a reason beyond my understanding, but the reality was a 10 year old boy was all alone at Christmas. Where was God who loved the whole world, while this boy’s world was falling apart?
Unfortunately, I’m sure many of you can relate to this boy. Is there anything happening in your world right now that has you feeling like God has forgotten about you or doesn’t love you enough to change the difficult situations in your life?
The truth is God’s love for you is so vast and so wide, it’s almost incomprehensible. In fact, He is pursuing you with His love even now as you read this. I had the privilege of sharing His pursuant love with that child. I had never met him before that day, yet was compelled to go visit. God allowed me to show him he was not forgotten about and that he was loved.
There’s a beautiful scripture in Romans 8:38-39 that tells us nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. “…Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
On that Saturday afternoon, I met that child in the midst of despair to remind him of that truth. My prayer for you today, as it was for that child a few years ago, is that you know God truly love you and His love can be freely found in Jesus Christ. He loves everyone, no matter your past, your present, your situations or your circumstances. At the heart of Christmas is His unfailing love, which is for every[one].
– Jeremiah Roy Kensington Clarkston, Teaching Pastor