One of our deepest longings and needs is that we are loved, right? Loved by those around us, close to us: family, friends, colleagues. We can face many of life’s hardships if we know we’re loved. Yet, most important is God’s love! “Your love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). Do you believe that? Many people think riches and success are quite satisfying, but if there’s no love, if others hate you or ignore you, what’s all that worth? More importantly, if you don’t know God’s love, what will help you when riches and success disappear through hardship or ultimately in death?
The problem is, we aren’t always the most loveable folks, are we? We’re so often selfish, say the wrong things, hurt others, get into arguments. So, it’s quite amazing that family and friends love us! Now you may think, “I might not always be loveable, but I’m a decent person. Surely, I deserve some love; I’m trying hard, you know… But those other people just make it too difficult! I can’t and won’t love them!” The standard for love isn’t that high if we only compare ourselves to others…
Yet in the Bible, Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44). What?! How can he be serious? Jesus explains in the next verses: Love like God, who shows love to all: sunshine, rain. The bar for true love, the greatest love, is as high as God himself! And God truly loved his enemies! How? “When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6, 8)
We aren’t always loveable. We definitely aren’t perfect. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ came and died on the cross to make a way for sinners to be forgiven; to become part of God’s family; to receive eternal life! All this can be yours too, “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.” Whoever believes! Not just those who are loveable; those who are decent enough – no: whoever!
Knowing such undeserved love of God is amazing. It helps Christians go through all of life, even times of suffering; it helps them to face death with hope; it helps them to forgive even their enemies, just like Jesus did. With God’s help, they seek to love others just as much. Why not read one of the accounts of Jesus’ life in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John)? And why not meet with a church to find out more about this greatest love?!
This column first appeared in the Newark Advertiser in September 2025, and was written by Klaas-Jan Gunnink.