8 Ways God Shows His Love for You

I recently spent a week in Oahu. The grandeur of the ocean is breathtaking. Magnificent colors of turquoise, aqua, indigo, and every shade of blue are displayed. Clear water allows you to see right to the bottom. Stunning trees. Birds of all kinds. When I view such splendor, I see God’s fingerprints everywhere. 

With love, He crafted every animal, plant, tree, water creature, flower, mountain, ocean, and star and placed them in this vast and dazzling world for His most glorious creation: people. Each man or woman is a walking miracle with bodies that boggle the mind in their design.

Here are a few of God’s astounding miracles:

Each human is unique in brain waves, fingerprints, and eyes. In fact, every part of us is unlike any other who is or has been, or ever will be. Exquisite work by our Master Designer.

A caterpillar feeds for days and then makes a chrysalis in which a miracle occurs. Over a couple of weeks, its body transforms into a completely new creature. It emerges from the tiny home as a brilliant butterfly. Its body dissolves and then morphs into this beauty! 

With the right care, a tiny seed has within itself all it needs to grow into a mighty tree, a gorgeous flower, a luscious tomato, or any of hundreds of plants, flowers, trees, or foods. A complete transformation.

The universe operates with precision. Galaxies and planets are each placed in the only location which allows life on planet Earth. The sun rises each morning. Seasons come and go with never-changing punctuality. 

It would take thousands of pages to list all the wonders of nature. The work of an intelligent creator is evident. Clearly, God created in love, causing us to stand speechless as we view His wonders.

Parents often hope their newborn child will look like them. Each searches for their own image in the tiny face. God loves each human so much, He made us like Him. He proclaimed, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…so God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27 NIV).

How can I be like God? I’m such a selfish creature. I make so many mistakes and am so weak and often foolish. 

Even scholars don’t completely agree on what it means to be made in the image of God. But it seems obvious being made like Him is what makes us different from all other creatures. Unlike animals, we can worship God. He gave us an eternal spirit and the ability to know and follow Him.

Yancey and Brand write, “Among all creatures, only humanity receives the image of God, and that quality separates us from all else. We possess what no other animal does; we are linked in our essence to God” (In His Image).

I’m like God when my spirit cries out for Him. I know my life has a purpose. He enables me to love others when I only want to look out for myself. The conviction I feel when I do wrong teaches me that I’m like Him, and my heart yearns to please Him.

How much must God love us to link us to Him in spirit?

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Because God desires to have a loving relationship with us, He inspired men to write down His thoughts, plans, acts, and feelings. We know how God feels about us because His Word tells us. Repeatedly throughout Scripture, He offers His love and pleads with us to turn to Him, love Him, and obey Him. Many Old Testament verses refer to God’s unfailing love. Here are a few:

“But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation” (Psalm 13:5 NIV).

“But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love” (Psalm 33:18 NIV).

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken…says the LORD” (Isaiah 54:10 NIV).

Also, God calls to us through His Son, Jesus Christ: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). 

The Bible teaches us how He created a perfect world, sin defiled His creation, and when the time came, He sent His Son to redeem humanity. Throughout Scripture, He reveals His heart of love.

4. By Listening to Us through the Gift of Prayer

God listens and responds when we talk to Him. He cares what we have to say and wants a personal, intimate relationship with us.

Scripture teaches:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6 NIV).

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). We can come boldly to the LORD God, Creator of all that exists, who is holy, all-powerful, and glorious. What an incredible gift!

I know Him, and He speaks to my heart. He tells me He loves me.

God’s most significant message of love came when He sent His only Son to rescue us from sin and eternal death by dying in our place and then rising again. He invites all who will believe in Jesus to become His children.

One of the most known and loved Bible verses proclaims, “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” (John 3:16 NIV).

I know Jesus died for me. From the cradle on, I’ve been taught the Gospel. But, when I was 13, I heard His call to my heart to trust Him for the forgiveness of my sin and to believe in Him as my Savior. He’s always been there for me since then and will never leave me. 

6. By Sending the Holy Spirit

God unmistakably shows His love in the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who comes to live in the soul of each believer!  He indwells, empowers, teaches, comforts, convicts, and guides us.

Jesus promised, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17a NIV).

God’s Spirit lives in me, and He alone empowers me to live for God and helps me overcome sin. 

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God shows His love by inviting all who believe in Jesus to live with Him in His home forever. He wants to spend eternity with us. John, a disciple of Jesus, recorded, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36a NIV).

Speaking of His children, Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28 NIV). I know when I die, I will be with my Father in heaven where there will be no more sorrow, suffering, sin, or death. 

God loves us enough to want to spend eternity with us!

8. Through the Love of Others

God also beautifully expresses His love through others. He knows we often need someone we can see, touch, and hear to fully experience His love. Before He went to the cross, Jesus taught His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35 NIV).

Scripture challenges us to, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8 NIV).

Again, we’re taught, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7 NIV). Love comes from God. When we love each other as He has commanded, He is loving through us.

When I’m sick and a friend brings food, God is loving me.

When my husband forgives my selfishness, God is loving me.

When a stranger shows up at just the right moment to help in a crisis, God is loving me.

“God is love” (1 John 4:8b NIV). When someone forgives, sacrifices, prays, gives, accepts, or loves us with the love of God, that is the Lord God loving us through them. 

God’s love is perfect. He gives this excellent promise: “Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39 NLT).