I Love You Because...

I was talking and saying goodbye to a friend. He told me, "I love you because you're a little odd. I love you because you think going for a walk on a freezing snowy evening is magical. I love you because you think spending hours in a library reading random articles and books is fun. I love you because you're strange"

He didn't say "I love you despite" these bizarre quirks he personally doesn't care to partake in; he said, "because". How wonderful is that? Isn't that what we all want, to be loved not despite, but because?

And of course, this got me thinking about God's love for us. Yes, He loves us despite of our sin. But go further; push the envelope a little bit. Why would Jesus love us so much He would die for us?

Because.

Because He knows us better than we know ourselves. Because He formed us with His own hands. Because He has a wondrous plan for us that He's been crafting since the foundations of time. Simply put, the Lord loves us because we are His.

And God, the Creator of the Universe, was willing to take this love all the way to Calvary for us. He wanted us to be reunited with Him. The Lord is just, and He extends a pierced hand to pull us out of our shame and sin. He is risen; He has made us more than conquerors. And why?

Because. Because He loves us. Because we are His. Because. Not despite, because.



Lord Jesus, I love You. I love You because You are, and will always be. I love You because You look past my sin and call me Yours. I love that I get to be a daughter of the King of all kings. I love You because, in my heart of heart, You are mine, and I am forever Yours. Amen.

But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1