I dashed over to my team as a big smile lit up my face. Most days I dreaded those school-yard picks from middle school gym class because athletics were never my strong suit. But this time was different. This time I was selected. I was not left awkwardly standing alone or forced on someone’s team because I was the only choice left. This time I had been chosen, and it felt great! My heart leaped with joy and a new sense of confidence surged within me because I was wanted. I belonged. I mattered to the team, and they saw my value. It’s been a long time since that moment in gym class, but I still remember it to this day.
It’s amazing how just one moment of feeling loved and accepted can change the trajectory of your entire day – sometimes even your entire life.
It’s our human nature. We all want to feel valued. We yearn to be known. We desire others to see our worth and our potential. And above all, we crave love and we long to be chosen.
Today I want to remind you of a beautiful truth. Perhaps you’ve heard it a thousand times before, but I don’t think this reminder ever grows old. It’s a truth so lovely that if you fully believed it with all your heart and embraced it with all your being, it truly would change the trajectory of your entire life.
Maybe today you need to be reminded that someone values you and that you belong. Maybe you need to hear one more time that you are fully known and deeply loved. Maybe you need to remember that you have already been chosen and will be chosen every single time by the One who is greater.
Because next week is Valentine’s Day, maybe you need to be reminded of the greatest valentine that was ever given - the perfect, immeasurable, unconditional love of Jesus Christ.
Jesus modeled for us what love is all about.
First John 4:8b says that “God is love.” In other words, God equals love. We must look to him as the perfect example of true love because it’s who he is. It’s his nature. It’s the very essence of his being. And that perfect love spills over into his care for each and every one of us.
I often hear people say that love is a choice. I never fully understood that truth until I stood back in awe of the awesome, unfailing example set by Jesus Christ. Love is a daily commitment to lay aside the interests of ourselves to first pursue the interests of others. It’s a daily sacrifice to relegate our own comforts as secondary to put the comforts of those we care about first. It’s a daily decision to accept others at their best as well as at their worst. It’s a daily choice to see past others’ shortcomings to embrace the good. Love chooses the other exactly as they are. That's also exactly what Jesus has done for each one of us.
Jesus' love chose us and continues to choose us daily.
How has Jesus shown us that kind of love? Here are just a few thoughts and verses to consider:
- Jesus put aside his own interests to put our interests first (Philippians 2:4-8).
- Jesus gave up every comfort to put our needs above his own (Isaiah 53:3-5).
- Jesus fully accepts us, not just at our best, but also at our absolute worst (1 Timothy 1:15).
- Jesus chooses to see past our mistakes to focus on the good (Hebrews 8:12).
- We have nothing to give to Jesus, but he gave everything for us (Romans 5:8).
- We try to earn our worth, but he says we are already enough in him (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- We try to show our value, but he says we already belong (2 Corinthians 6:18).
- We seek to be acknowledged, but he says we are already seen and fully known (Psalm 139:1-7).
You see? Jesus' love does not need to be earned. We don’t have to strive to show our worth. We don’t have to outdo someone else to be chosen by him. We don’t need to showcase our abilities to demonstrate that we are enough. He already proved our infinite worth with his death on the cross. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” In all our shortcomings, Jesus chose us. And him choosing us had absolutely nothing to do with our own achievements. Rather, it had everything to do with his unconditional love.
Jesus' scars tell us we're worth it.
John 15:16a is a beautiful reminder of Jesus' amazing love. He says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” Now that is true love. We never have to wonder again if we will be chosen. He chose us and desires a relationship with us. The scars on his hands and feet (from when he gave his life for us on the cross) prove that he wants us as part of his family. To him, we are infinitely valued and we always belong.
We can search the world for as long as we live for a love we think will give us all the validation and acceptance we've ever longed for, but nothing on this earth can ever complete us. All we’ve ever needed can be found in the loving arms of our Savior.
A few years ago, I remember driving home after what had been a rough day. I was searching for acceptance, trying to believe my worth. The song “Better” by Pat Barrett came on the Christian radio station. The chorus says:
Your love is better than life.
You are the well that won’t run dry.
I have tasted and I have seen.
Oh, You are better than all these things.
At that moment, Jesus reminded me that his love is better than life itself. His well of unconditional love is always overflowing for us. His love fulfills our deepest needs and it is so much better than anything we could possibly imagine.
Jesus' love is the greatest valentine ever given.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus proved our worth by sacrificing his life for us. He sees us. He knows us. He gives us value on the “team.” His love chose us and will continue to choose us every single time. It’s a pure, radiantly authentic, counter-culture kind of love. It has no hidden agenda. It keeps no record of wrongs. It is not selective. It always protects. It is patient. It pursues us. It is sacrificial. And it has no end. That is the greatest valentine ever given.
And you know the best part? When we begin to fully embrace the limitless love of God, we can begin to share it in its purest form to change the world around us!
Want to learn more about God's love?
You're invited to Berean! No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you're welcome here. Your story matters and you're invited to come as you are.
Modern style worship services are on Sunday mornings at 9 & 11 a.m. and classic style worship services are on Sunday at 8:15 & 10 a.m.
If you can't attend in person, you can always watch online here.
