“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, NIV2)

God’s Word is filled with love letters. Truly, every book within the Bible contains love letters inspired by God’s Holy Spirit Himself. How could it be otherwise, when Jesus willingly died for us on a cross so that we could have the option to live forever? God is madly in love with us!

Do you remember the first time you were really in love with the one who would eventually become your spouse? How did you feel at that time? Life seemed quite different compared to how you lived before. Now you were walking with a big smile, treading on heaven’s realm itself. The thoughts of your beloved filled you with adrenaline. You were truly revived! Adversity was just that: adversity. Your thoughts were geared to more important things: someone truly loved you! Wow!

The heart of God is relationship, and such a relationship is based on faith. Remember the day you married your spouse? You couldn’t have known for certain what you were entering into. You had to trust your spouse that he/she was who and what you thought he/she was. After all, trust seals any relationship!

Truly, in any human relationships, surprises can be forthcoming, and some of these can be less complimentary than expected. The same is true when we encounter God. By faith we accept Him and invite Him to reside within us. Unlike marriages, His surprises are never unwelcome. He is way beyond what we expect of Him. You feel yourself completely revived, walking on clouds. Imagine: the Almighty loves you, LOVES YOU!!! Imagine that! He wants to live within you. He would never consider abandoning you. He not only loves you, He wants you!

“‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.'” (Ps 91:14-15, NIV2)

This kind of love is what makes us truly alive. As long as we stay in such love, we can’t help but be filled with adrenaline. We commit fully to be one with Him, a union that will last for eternity: “This is how we know that we live in him and He in us: He has given us of his Spirit.” (1John 4:13, NIV2)

We have turned from death to life. Adversity doesn’t faze us any longer. We know our God loves us so much that His own Son died for us on a lonely cross so that we would have the possibility to choose Him as the One we love. And that love will never be quenched, for it is more real than any love out there.

One of our faithful prayer warriors, Sapna Shah, passed away last week. She had a massive infection, which led her to her death. Even though she was suffering, she emailed me, encouraging me to turn many of my devotionals into eBooks on Amazon. I was a bit restrained, as I didn’t want to make money from what God had given to me freely, but she patiently overcame every one of my objections. She was that kind of a person, unfazed of her own tribulations.

She truly was a child of God. She, too, in faith, had accepted God fully, and it changed her completely. Her love was so palpable that no one ever doubted that she hadn’t encountered the love of her life: Jesus Himself. In her own word, she boldly declared: “When I feel like crying, I pray. Instead of asking God why, I say: “Thank You God for getting me through one more day.”

I know I will have the opportunity to meet her in person, once I join her in God’s Kingdom.

Love is sure catchy. It turns dull life into real living.

Thank you Lord for making us alive through your love. Thank you that you are willing to reside within us and be our forever companion. We truly have nothing to fear, for You are with us.

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Alive” devotional series, please click here.)