Three of the most meaningful and poignant words we ever hear are “I love you!” These might come from your little grandchild when she looks up at you and says, “I love you G’ma!” Or perhaps, you remember when you were dating, when your spouse-to-be told you for the very first time “I love you.” Relationships are closer when this is expressed in word and deed. We long to be assured of it from Mom, Dad, Son, Daughter, and best friend. Yes, those three words, “I love you” have meant so much to us over the years and brought warmness to our heart so many times. But the greatest “I love you” comes from God Himself.
Over and over in the Bible, from cover to cover, He tells us “I love you!” In Jeremiah 31:3 God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
In John 13:34, Jesus says “Love one another even as I have loved you”, i.e., with an everlasting love.
Love is the cause of sacrifice for the well-being of others. Jesus showed his love for us by his self-sacrifice on Calvary. It is appropriate that we celebrate love in February before we celebrate His resurrection in April.
To love and be loved is something wonderful and unequaled in this world. Just think, this is the commandment of our Lord. He desires that we abide, set up homesteading, living according to His love (John 15:9). Love is the indissoluble bond of union. Colossians 3:14 charges us, “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
1 John 4:7 admonishes, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born and God an knows God.” But the sobering opposite is true it goes on to say. “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
Love is so central to the Christian existence that apart from it all that is left is window dressing for lesser, baser reasons.
Christ’s church is built on love. Sin is defeated by it. Judgment is softened by it. Forgiveness is made available because of it. Hope is generated by it. Life is made worth living by it. Salvation is granted by it. Self is diminished by it. Relationships are created and secured by it.
In this world what we really need is love. Not the love the world offers but the satisfying, self-sacrificing love of Christ in and through us. When talking about love it is blessed both to give and receive…a “win-win.” From now on be determined by word and deed to make sure everyone you love knows without a doubt that you love them. Make it a goal to love someone into the family of Christ this year.
Pastor Stephen
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