For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. John 16:27 (NKJV)

Long before there were Emoji with every face and feeling, there were simple yellow smiley faces with four words, “Smile, God loves you!”

Do you remember seeing these on bumper stickers and binders?  They always brought a smile to my face and the thought, “That’s nice.”

But one day when I was reading the book of John, it hit me.  John 16:27 proclaims that the Father Himself (God) loves me, because I believe in Jesus.  All because I love Jesus and believe He came from God, God loves me!  Even if I mess up today and all my friends send me frowny emojis, God loves me.  He will never stop loving me.  He loves me forever into eternal life in heaven, because I love Jesus and believe He came from God.  What a wonderful promise.

The beauty of His promise is that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  Jesus died for all our sins before we were even born, or knew Him, or believed in Him. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13).  That is an amazing love I hold dear in my heart forever.

Today’s TEA CUPP:  My friend, God’s promises are for you. Believe in His Son Jesus and love Him with all your heart.  Tell Him you love Him today! Smile, God loves you!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.  Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)

...I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved.  Romans 9:25 (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.