Human behavior… Two keys - one solution

Two key aspects of humanity that significantly shape how we approach each other and all of life. 

1. We all desperately want to be considered valuable/important/ worthwhile... In a word we all desire love... to be loved. 

In fact, our desire for love is infinite because we are designed to be in relationship with the Infinite i.e. God. When we do experience love, is it ever enough or do we want more and want it to never stop? (few people feel or experience overwhelming/infinite love so our expectations are low. Therefore we don't normally recognize our need for love is this great i.e. infinite. To allow ourselves to believe there is such a love opens us up to being disappointed if it turns out not to be true.)

2. Underneath all the exterior pleasantries and displays, we all live in pain and are fearful and untrusting of others. 

Do we approach someone we know who loves us dearly differently than a total stranger? Why? What is the difference? The one who loves us dearly has proven their love, so we trust them. The stranger has not.

The solution:

1. God is infinite and eternal love (he not only loves, but he is love) and offers this love to us through his Son. This love is the very life of God (for more on this click here and here). It is called eternal life and is available to us as a gift earned on our behalf by Christ...if we humbly receive it. 

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. Joh 17:1-5   

2. God is infinitely good, wise, powerful, and present. We not only can approach him in and through Christ but we can trust him because of Christ i.e. In Christ, God demonstrated his infinite goodness, wisdom, power, and presence, proving he is fully worth of all our love, loyalty, and commitment.