We all desperately long to be loved. Siblings fight for the attention of their parents. Young men (and old men!) will go to great lengths to win the love a woman. Women will likewise try to win the heart of a man. Teens will do just about anything to be accepted by their peer group. When we feel unloved or rejected, we may slip into depression and self-destructive behaviors.


While the love we give and receive is wonderful, it is not the love we are seeking; it all falls short. We long to be fully known and fully loved. Yet because we know our own imperfections and secret sins, we try hard to appear acceptable and worthy of love.


The good news of the Gospel is that the love we long for is poured out on us by God Himself. He made the first move! Even when He knew all your darkest secrets, He set His affection on you. He loved you so much He sent His Son to live the life of perfect obedience that you can’t and to absorb God’s wrath in your place. Nothing and nobody can separate you from that love.