Yes, You Are Loved

In this PLPT Guest Post, Pastor/Professor Lawrence Ware reminds us that we are indeed special, unique and most of all--loved.

There are over 6 billion people on Earth. Think about that: 6 billion people.

Confronted with that number, it is hard to feel special. What is one person compared with that number? How can any person feel special, unique, individualized? What makes one life valuable compared to so many others? Am I more than just a face in the crowd; more than just a social security number? Am I significant? Do I matter?

I think you do. Let me tell you why.

St. Augustine was this black guy from the Fourth Century. He was a philosopher and theologian—and since he now has 'St.' in from of his name, he must have been a pretty nice guy.

He wrote this book entitled Confessions. (Not to be confused with the album of the same name from this other black guy named Usher.) In the book, Augustine says something that I find to be as sublime as it is profound: God loves each of us as though there were only one of us.

Imagine that: 6 billion people, an ecosystem, an ever expanding universe—and God is concerned about you. Concerned about if you are having a good day. Concerned about your joy. Concerned about your family.

So many of us struggle with significance. Struggle with being loved. We look for love in relationships, in family, in life. And all the while, love is staring us in the face. We have become so consumed by our search for love that we fail to see we already have what we’ve always been looking for.

God loves you—like you were the most important person on the planet.

There is no greater love than that. I pray that you feel it today.

Lawrence Ware is lecturing professor of philosophy at Oklahoma State University and Pastor of Christian Education at Prospect Church. He writes for Tikkun and Religion Dispatchers all while living in Oklahoma City with his wife and sons.