YOU ARE GREATLY LOVED
Quote for Today
“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
- Maya Angelou
Bible Podcast
Take 10 minutes every day and have the Bible read to you. In one year you will have read the whole Bible and your life will have dramatically been changed.
That I can guarantee.
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WORD FROM THE HOLY BIBLE FOR TODAY
Ephesians 2:3–5
“We all once lived among [the sons of disobedience] in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved.”
REFLECTION
GOD LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN FULLY IMAGINE
“Would you not love to hear the angel Gabriel say to you, “You are greatly loved”?
Three times this happened to Daniel.
“At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved.” (Daniel 9:23)
“O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” (Daniel 10:11)
And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” (Daniel 10:19)
I admit that each year when I read through the Bible and come to these verses, I want to take them and apply them to myself. I want to hear God saying to me, “You are greatly loved.”
In fact, I do hear this. And you can hear it too. If you have faith in Jesus, God himself says to you in his word — which is more sure than an angel of God speaking — “You are greatly loved.”
There it stands in Ephesians 2:3–5, 8: We “were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. . . . For by grace you have been saved through faith.”
This is the only place where Paul uses this wonderful phrase “great love.” And it is better than an angel’s voice. If you have seen Jesus as true and received him as your supreme treasure, that is, if you are “alive,” you are greatly loved. Greatly loved by the Creator of the universe. Just think of it! Greatly loved!”
- By John Piper. © Desiring God Foundation.
YOU ARE GREATLY LOVED
GOD LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN FULLY IMAGINE
That passage is such a powerful reminder of God’s grace and love! Here are some key takeaways and ways to apply them to your daily life as a follower of Jesus: 1. Never Forget Where God Brought You From Reflection: We were once lost, living according to the flesh, but God rescued us. Application: Stay humble and grateful. Let your past remind you of His mercy, and let it fuel your compassion for those still lost. 2. Walk in the New Life Christ Has Given You Reflection: We were spiritually dead, but now we are alive in Christ. Application: Live in a way that reflects your new identity. Let your thoughts, words, and actions reflect the transformation God has worked in you. 3. Live in the Power of Grace, Not Guilt Reflection: Salvation is a gift from God—it’s not earned. Application: Stop striving for approval and rest in God’s grace. Serve and obey out of love, not fear or obligation. 4. Extend the Same Mercy and Love to Others Reflection: God, rich in mercy, loved us when we didn’t deserve it. Application: Show that same mercy and grace to others. Forgive, love, and be patient, just as God was with you. 5. Keep Your Eyes on Eternity Reflection: This life is temporary, but the grace we have in Christ is eternal. Application: Make choices with eternity in mind. Share the Gospel, invest in what lasts, and live each day for God’s glory.
Neven MacEwan
Heavenly Father, with a heart full of awe, I come before You, overwhelmed by the depth of Your love. You saw me when I was lost, when I lived according to the desires of my flesh, when I was undeserving—yet You pursued me. You, who are rich in mercy, reached down and lifted me up. You called me out of darkness and made me alive with Christ. By Your grace, I am saved! By Your love, I am redeemed! By Your power, I am transformed! Lord, I cannot comprehend the greatness of Your love, but I receive it with gratitude. Let my life be a reflection of that love. Let my words, my actions, and my heart’s posture declare Your goodness to the world. You did not save me just for my own sake, but so that I might glorify You and bring others into Your presence. Father, I ask for strength—strength to stand firm in faith, to resist the temptations of this world, and to walk boldly in the calling You have placed on my life. I know that in my own power, I am weak, but in You, I am strong. Strengthen my hands for the work of Your Kingdom. Strengthen my heart to love as You love. Strengthen my mind to remain steadfast in truth. Give me courage, Lord. Courage to step out in faith when I feel unqualified. Courage to speak when the world tells me to be silent. Courage to serve selflessly, to love radically, and to trust You completely. Let me not shrink back in fear, but move forward in the power of Your Spirit. Use me, Lord! Take my life, my talents, my time—everything I am—for Your glory. Let my service to You not be out of obligation, but out of deep gratitude for what You have done. Whether great or small, let me be faithful in every opportunity You place before me. And Father, when I grow weary, remind me of Your love. When I doubt, remind me of Your grace. When I struggle, remind me that it is not by my might, but by Your Spirit that I can do all things. I give myself fully to You. Be glorified in my life, now and forever. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Neven MacEwan
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