I like God because He likes me

Danny Fourie

God is love. 1 John 4:16

You might think that the title of this devotion is a slightly unfortunate choice: I like God because he likes me! Perhaps a strange reasoning? Not so strange. One does not like each and every guy or girl who likes you. Just because someone likes you does not mean that you intend to have a romantic relationship with that person.

There is a substantial difference between God who loves you and a guy or girl who likes you. Despite how much someone likes you, thinks of you and fantasizes over you, it often does not mean something to you or that he or she does something for you. You still remain only in that person’s mind.

God's love for us is not but a mere infatuation. God not just constantly thinks of us, he also puts out his hands and does something for us, and means something to us. The scars of the nails to his hands were still clearly visible after the resurrection of Jesus.

Is it still so strange of me to like God because He likes me? Let us try to determine how great God's love for us is. It is much deeper and more intense than the love people have for each other. Multiply the love of teenagers and the love of young mothers for their babies with a thousand and still it does not compare in any way with the love that God feels for you and me.

The Bible, God's love letter, says it in many places. He likes us. He loves us. Who does not know the world-renowned words in John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In this sentence is written precisely how much God loves us. How can it be that I do not answer to this love? God is your and my Saviour. Of course, for that reason I like him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand how much you love me, how deep and how intense your love is for me. Thank you. Amen.