Happy One Week from Valentine's Friday. This time next week, women all over America will be anxiously awaiting flower deliveries, chocolates, romantic dinners, and possibly even proposals and engagement rings. Men will be running around trying to make reservations for a quick weekend getaway or a last-minute dinner reservation at a popular restaurant. There will be a lot of smiling, kissing and some tears ( some happy and some sad). There will be millions of men and women who won't be asked to be someone's valentine. Today I want to talk about LOVE. Not Storge love which is affectionate love. This love exists naturally between family members and friends, such as the warm, unforced love shown between spouses, or between a parent and a child, or Eros love which is sexual or passionate love. and it is important within a marriage relationship or Phileo love which is brotherly love. This type of love is most often shown within close friendships. This is a generous and affectionate love that seeks to make the other person happy with no expectation for the acts of kindness to be returned, but today I want to talk about Agape love. Agape love is sacrificial love. This is the most noble and powerful type of love because it is an act of the will. Christ showed us, agape love, when He died on the cross, sacrificing Himself so that we can know eternal life and salvation. No matter where we find ourselves, we can never escape the loving arms of God. Romans 8:31–32 says '“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Our first love story is the love of God. God loved us first before we were even born, and the proof is the life of our savior Jesus Christ, who came to free us from the bondage of sin. “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. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9–10 Even though we fail Him on a daily basis, HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS US. He promised never to leave us nor forsake us. There is nothing in our future, not even our own deaths, that can keep us from the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One thing I am certain of, once we fully embrace the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, then we are truly capable and able to love another person. Don't wait until next week to show your loved ones that you care, tell them today. Show them today. God's Love is Amazing. So, no sad tears next Friday, even if you don't have a Valentine, rejoice in the fact that you are loved by the Greatest Being ever Born... You are loved by the Lord Jesus Christ. You are His wonderful Creation, His most magnificent handiwork and we are forever in His Hand.
Here is a snippet of one of God's Love Letters to you.
Dear Friend,
I love you! (John 3:16) I created you in my image (Genesis 1:27) and I called you “very good” (Genesis 1:31). I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). I know the number of the hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30) and I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139:3). My precious thoughts of you are as countless as the sand on the seashore (Psalm 139:17-18). I am Love (1 John 4:16) and the greatest commandment that I have for you is that you love (Matthew 22:37-40). My love is made complete in you when you receive my love, love me, and love others (1 John 4:7-21). To show you how to live this life of love I’ve given you Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), laws that honor me and are good and pleasing to you (Psalm 119).So to fear me is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). But you don’t need to remain afraid of me; if you rely on me then my perfect love will remove all of your fear (1 John 4:18). I am a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6).
Now, in the person of Jesus Christ, I knock on the door of your heart, waiting for you to let me in (Revelation 3:20). Open the door and I will forgive your sins (Acts 10:43) and choose not to remember them anymore (Isaiah 43:25). I will teach you how to live your daily life with me in the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 4:17). I will adopt you into my family (Ephesians 1:5) and lavish on you my fatherly love (1John 3:1). Then you will marvel that I chose you to be my child (Ephesians 1:11-12) and I drew you to myself (John 6:44).
You see I’ve loved you from the beginning, long before you loved me (1 John 4:19). I sent my son Jesus, the exact representation of my being (Hebrews 1:3), to die on the cross in your place (Romans 5:8), to take upon Himself the punishment that you deserved (Isaiah 53:5), and to take away your sin (John 1:29). For you the mighty Lion sacrificed his life as an innocent Lamb (Revelation 5:5-6). So you can see that in Jesus I, your Lord and Master, have come to serve you! (John 13:13-14)
Since I care so much for you don’t worry about getting your needs met and don’t worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-34). Just as I look after the little sparrow so will I look after you (Matthew 10:26-31). So give your burdens to me and let me give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Talk to me when you’re anxious and let me put you at peace (Philippians 4:6).
This bible study taught by Evang. Saundra Riley really blessed me... I pray that it ministers to you.
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