I received a kind compliment from someone about these posts, and she joked that if it were up to her to write a devotional on the fly each week, it would simply say: “Jesus loves you. The End.” We laughed about it then, but the more I thought about it later, I realized … isn’t that the point? Is there really much more that I could add to get the message across as clearly?

Sure, I can share a personal story here or there and try to help you learn from my mistakes or perhaps think of issues from a fresh perspective, but what it really boils down to is that God loves us, and we should love him back. While we’re at it, we should love others, too. (Check out Matthew 22:36-40.) In fact, the overarching theme of the whole Bible is God’s relentless pursuit of a relationship with us because he loves us so very much.

Do you realize that Jesus loves you more than Elvis loved peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwiches? He delights in you more than Liz Taylor over diamonds. He is more committed to you than Sam was to Frodo (not to mention that he trekked up his own version of Mount Doom on a quest to destroy our sins, once and for all). He endures more drama in your life than Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. His love lasts longer than Snape’s for Lily. He offers you a place in his tribe with immunity – and not only to survive, but to have a life that thrives! He doesn’t care about the world’s applause; you take center stage under his spotlight. Think of the greatest love story, the heartiest friendship, the most selfless sacrifice, the farthest come-from-behind victory … Jesus’ love for us tops them all.

In the words of one of the greatest adventures ever told: “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.”* Christ is so madly in love with us that he prioritized our needs above his own life. Not only did he go to the cross in our place, but he also promised to come back for us! (John 14:2-4)

What more is there to say?

Jesus loves you! The End.

*(Brownie points if you knew the quote from The Princess Bride!)