February is the month of love. We think much about the love we have for our significant other on Valentine’s Day, and, rightly so. Yet, there is no greater love to speak of than the love of God given to us by the sending His one and only Son. We should consider the special love God has for His blood-bought children. When we consider His love, we should be filled with love for God. The Bible says, “We love Him, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).” Think about how the Bible speaks of God’s love for us.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”                                                                                                                        Romans 5:8 (ESV)

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”                    1 John 4:9 (ESV)

It is utterly amazing that God would send His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins. The Bible says that we were spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins. We don’t deserve His love or forgiveness, and only an act of God on our behalf could bring salvation to us. From our human perspective, our salvation focuses on our accepting Christ. But, the Bible teaches that our accepting and receiving is preceded by God’s choosing and calling. Paul says in Ephesians 1:4 that, “God chose us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world.” And Paul writes in another place that it is God who, “ has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before ages began, …”     2 Timothy 1:9-10 (ESV) 

We can only come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord by God’s power. And, as we embrace this truth about God’s love we will discover that His love was working for us, before we ever breathed our first breath. His love was in motion, before we ever spoke our first words or took our first step. In love, He chose us not because of our choice, but He was paving the way for us to believe in Him, even before we were ever born. His love draws us. His love pursues us. His love softens our hard hearts, and we receive Christ who alone can save us from sin, death, and hell. His love leads us to faith and His love will bring us to heaven. This is amazing love!

Lord, we love you because you first loved us. How amazing is your love for us!

Pastor Andy