Week 24: Take It Personal

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us…” (1 John 3:1).

Jesus had more than twelve disciples. He sent out seventy-two others to preach and heal (Luke 10:1). Many men and women followed Him and supported His ministry (Luke 8:1–3). There were 120 gathered before Pentecost (Acts 1:15). He appeared to more than 500 believers after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6). Some disciples even turned back (John 6:66). Yet Jesus demonstrated the greatest love of all by laying down His life for us (John 15:13). There is no greater love than this. That is why John declared, “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).

John personalized God’s love. And so should you. The weight, the depth, and the height of God’s love were not reserved for the Twelve or for John alone. We are all the beloved of God. You are God’s chosen and beloved (Colossians 3:12), loved by God and called to be saints (Romans 1:7). Those once outside His covenant are now called beloved (Romans 9:25), and Israel remains beloved for the sake of the patriarchs (Romans 11:28). Paul, Peter, and Jude all addressed believers as “beloved” (2 Peter 3:1; Jude 1:1). This love is not exclusive — it is expansive. Starting today, take it personally. You are the beloved.

I have noticed how people gravitate toward me, saying I make them feel loved. But the truth is, my love by itself is limited, imperfect, disloyal, and full of boundaries. It was not until I fully embraced the love of God that I could truly share it. I was empty. What others experience now is not my love at all — it is God’s love flowing through me.

Identity, purpose, mission, and motivation are not born from self-love, self-validation, or self-achievement. They are born from intimacy with a God who calls you beloved. Jesus did not wait for John to earn His love. He simply loved him. And He loves you the same way. When you internalize that truth, something awakens: I am the one He loves. I am His. I belong. I matter.

The world will try to convince you to love yourself instead. But Scripture says, “Love is not self-seeking” (1 Corinthians 13:5). “By love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). No one crucifies what they love.

Yet we are commanded to “put to death… whatever belongs to your earthly nature” (Colossians 3:5). “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh” (Galatians 5:24). Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). We live in a world that is empty, angry broken, and unforgiving, all because we don’t take God’s love personal, instead “Another Jesus” has taught people to love themselves.