Love

I sat there on the bed, curled up in my blankets, yawning at the dark sky outside. The bright red book in front of me beckoned me to open up my mind, to see beyond, to grasp. My mind was fuzzy. I read, skimmed, acknowledged, but didn't hold on.

Until I reached that one sentence.

I'd read this book before. Was enthralled with the dreams that my mind created once shown the vision of what He could do through me, if only I would purpose to "Do Hard Things."

But, apart from the message that the book was giving, this one sentence grabbed hold and did not let go.

"He will never-- could never-- love you any more than He does right now."

Read it again... I sure did.

And my thoughts ran something like this: Never? That's not an easy word to toss around. As in... He loved me this much when He formed the sun, guided Abraham, called David a man after His own heart, and died? He loves me exactly the same as He did when hung on that cross? Was beaten, ripped apart, mocked, died, and then came back to life?

Think about it.

This truth has trouble finding a resting place in my heart. I am the kind of person who would rather do something so that I can be saved, rather than resting in the promise that He has done everything.

But, then again, when I fail and fall, it's such a relief to know that He loves me no matter what. Is this a license to sin? Nope... it's a licence for gratefulness.

And as I set the book down and thought about my attitudes, actions, thoughts, and everything else from the day before, I found myself so glad to claim this promise. He doesn't love me because of my actions, where in the world I was born, who my connections are. He loves me because I'm me. And that's hard to grab ahold of... but I'm so glad that I can.

I ate breakfast, opened up the windows, and saw this sunrise. He didn't have to.... But He wanted to. Because that's who He is...

Love.