Because He First Loved MeThis week we observe Valentines Day. The more cynical among us would suggest itis a holiday perpetuated by florists and greeting card companies to sell morestuff. Some among us would take theological exception to it, declaring it to bea pagan holiday that pays homage to evil so we should avoid it. But the vastmajority of us will use it as an opportunity to do what we should all do moreoften anyway... to tell and show the one we love how we feel about them.Throughout history, the love of a man for a woman (or vice-versa) has inspiredus to reach for the heights of our creative abilities in search of a way toexpress that love. Look at all of the songs that have been written, the wordsthat have been penned, even the monuments that have been erected. They say thatthe majestic Taj Mahal in India was built to express a man's love for a woman.In like manner, man has gone to great lengths throughout history to expresspraise, adoration and love to God. But all of our efforts seem to fall short ofthe mark. While we can find words to express human love, we find it hard tocomprehend, much less express or return the agape love of God.We wrestle with the concept of God's love because much of the time we have ahard time loving ourselves and certainly have a hard time loving each other. Ifwe can't love ourselves, if we can't love our brothers and sisters in Christ,how can we comprehend the perfect love of God?Only God's love is unfailing. Even the best, most godly people will let us down.But God never fails and His love never fails.Only God's love is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, andHis love is as unchanging as His character.Only God's love is unconditional. As much as we love our spouse or our childrenor our parents, our love can never be completely unselfish or with absolutely nostrings attached. We are not capable of that kind of love. But God is. There isnothing that you can do to earn God's love. And there is nothing you can do thatcan cause God to not love you.With our finite human minds we cannot fully comprehend the love of God, but wecan accept it. You don't have to understand something to know that it is true.Every now and then when I tell my wife I love her she will smile at me andplayfully say, "Why do you love me?" "Because you are so easy to love!" I say inreturn. It's the same with my Lord. I may not be able to understand how God canlove me, but I know He does, and that makes it so easy to love Him in return. Heloves me, and that love is expressed in the grace, mercy and favor He hasbestowed upon me all of my life. And it was best expressed when Jesus gave Hislife to give me the gift of eternal life.Oh, how I love Jesus, because He first loved me!
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