God Loves You, He Really Does!

I wanted to share this from my online devotion (The Word For Today)

"'Can anything...separate us from Christ's love?...'"
Romans 8:35 NLT

Our limited minds can't comprehend God's love because it comes with no strings attached. He doesn't love us 'if,' but 'in spite of.' As a parent you may not approve of your child's behaviour, but you always love and accept them. Paul asks, 'Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love?'(Romans 8:35 NLT) Then he answers, '...I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love...'(Romans 8:38) Doesn't that blow your mind? We have just enough ego to believe there are certain sins God can't get over; like the ones we never commit. Do you remember the Pharisee in the temple who prayed, '...God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or...this tax collector [standing next to me].' (Luke 18:11 NKJV) Understand this: God's standard is perfection, and you couldn't reach it in a thousand lifetimes! Grace is the only hope any of us have.
Our love for God relates to the level of the forgiveness we've received from Him. The Pharisees were shocked that Jesus would allow a woman with a bad reputation to kneel at His feet, bathing them with her tears and drying them with her hair. They thought, '...If Jesus were a prophet, He would know that the woman...is a sinner!' (Luke 7:39 NCV) No, it wasn't that Jesus didn't know, it was that He didn't care. 'Then He said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'' (Luke 7:48 NKJV) Then He gives us the bottom line: '...to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.' (Luke 7:47 NKJV) And what should our response to God's love be? 'This is love for God: to obey his commands...' (1 John 5:3 NIV)