Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.

While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly.

Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die.

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ's blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion) through His [resurrection] life."
(Rom. 5:5-10 AMP)

Many of us can believe that God loves us as long as we don't mess up. Most people don't like themselves very much, so they conclude that God can't be very impressed.

Yet the Bible says, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" (Ps. 8:4). We are just simply God's creation, and He loves us because He loves us. He is love (1 John 4:16).

He loves you, and you are special. That means you are distinctive and unique. You are not supposed to be like me, and I am not supposed to be like you.

And we will be miserable if we try to be like anyone else. All that does is give the devil an opportunity to tell you that you are not good enough. The thing is, with God, you don't have to be "good enough."

Did Jesus die for you because you were so great and wonderful, or did He die for you because He loved you? The Bible says that if He loved you enough to die for you, how much more then, being justified by His blood, does He now love you? (Rom. 5:8-9)

He loves you enough to cover your little daily mistakes. He loves you enough to get you through this day in power and victory.

God showed me an example one day of how He sees our mistakes and shortcomings. Imagine a little kid, about three or four years old, who is always watching mommy do her housework.

She loves mommy so much that she gets a little bucket of water and a little rag and goes to the picture window on the front porch. She scrubs the window really well then gets a few paper towels and wipes the window.

Of course, it is all streaky and smeary and soapy. And when you see what she did, you realize she used your best cleaning rag, and you would like to wring her neck.

But she comes in, and in her tiny sweet voice says, "Mommy, mommy, I washed your window. I did such a good job for you. I love you mommy."

A loving mother would say, "Oh, that's a wonderful thing you did. Thanks for helping." Then, as soon as the child was busy somewhere else, she would clean up the mess and give her some encouragement later not to do that again.

God told me that's what He does for us. He always cleans up our messes. If you are doing the best that you know how to do, that's all God expects from you.

He doesn't expect you to do something you are not able to do. He can change you if you are willing to say, "You're right God, and I'm wrong. I've tried, and I can't change it."

Then He will because He knows you can't make yourself better without His help.


Source: Tell Them I Love Them by Joyce Meyer
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers