What’s your favorite flower? Mine is a daisy. There is something about daisies that make me smile. They are white and cheerful looking, but they are also very hearty flowers that seem to be able to grow anywhere. As a little girl I would be thrilled when I would come across daisies growing in the wild. I would pick all I could hold. I would sit on the ground and play the familiar game “He loves me, He loves me not” as I plucked the petals off of a flower. Sometimes it would end on “He loves me” and I would smile, taking the rest of my flowers to my mother. If it landed on “He loves me not” I would pick up another flower and start again. Even as a little girl love was the goal.
God wired us for love. Love is what spurred Jacob to work 14 years to have Rachel as his wife, even after his father-in-law tricked him [Genesis 29:1-30]. Leah sought after Jacob’s love over and over only to realize Rachel would always be the love of his life [Genesis 29:32-35]. Love is what caused Hosea to continue to take Gomer back as his wife, time after time [Hosea 1-14].
Even after we experience all the love another person can give, there is still a void only God can fill. He created us for intimacy with Him. He desires for us to be one with Him just as He and Christ are one [John 17:20-21]. The great news is we don’t have to work through a “to do” list to receive this love from God. It is a free gift to all who will receive [1 John 4:19]. You can’t do anything to make God love you more than He does right now and you can’t do anything to make God love you less than He does right now [Romans 5:8]. He thinks you rock and He always has [1 John 4:16].
When I played the “He loves me” game as a little girl, I didn’t have anyone in particular in mind. I just enjoyed playing the game; however, if I played it with God in mind, I would have to change the rules. I would pull one petal off and declare “He loves me.” I would then pull the next one off and declare “He loves me,” because it wouldn’t matter how many petals I pulled off the flower, the response would always be the same. He loves me…and He loves you too. Don’t take that for granted. Sit for a minute and soak in the reality that the creator of heaven and earth is head over heels in love with you. He loved you enough to send His Son to die for you. He is right beside you every step of every day because you matter to Him. He is captivated by you and desires to spend time with you. Who wouldn’t want a relationship with a God like that?
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…it is more than a song. It is our reality. Won’t you embrace it today?