Love

Love

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8

Could anything be said more plainly? It is not we who begin negotiations with God to convey to him our desire for love. It is God who continually presents his love in an assurance beyond argument.^a

If we ever feel doubtful of God’s love and care, it’s good to remember that he loved us even when our hearts were cold toward him.

Sometimes, for an hour or two or for a day, I am prompted to look for all the ways God seeks to show his love to me. We talk about seeking God, but we sometimes forget how much he seeks us—constantly. We see his love in the air we breathe, the day and the night, the beauty of the seasons, the magnificent way he created our bodies to function, the plants and animals he created for our food and enjoyment—and the list goes on.

But most of all, his love was revealed when Jesus died for us “while we were still sinners.” It’s the redemptive aspect of his love that ministers health to my soul. He didn’t wait until I was “good enough.” His loving plan for all of us is to redeem us—to save us from a state of sinfulness and restore us with honor, worth, and reputation that are all based on him!

And redemptive love doesn’t stop with us. God’s plan is for the world, and when we accept his redemption for our souls, we desire to teach our children about God’s love.

Father,

Thank you that you loved us before we even thought about you! May our gratefulness prompt us to service that begins with our family. Amen.