With all the things to do in life, God designated a time for us to love. There are probably more love songs than just about any other type out there, except, maybe, heartbreak! But let’s give heartbreak a break!
Watch any documentary or any TV show where people have suffered loses whether through violence, death of a loved one, or natural disasters like fires, tornadoes, or hurricanes, etc. and when strangers show up to help in some tangible way, there will always be tears of appreciation, of humility, and gratitude from the owners for those helping hands. Whether it’s counselling, embracing, building, or lending a hand, or ear, love is always appreciated. Those receiving aid never ask, “Are you republican or democrat?” Or “What’s your religion?” Simply, because love knows no bounds.
When love shows up, knocks at your door, and you let Him in, you may very well be entertaining angels (Hebrews 13:2). When you and I have suffered any type of loses, help knocked at the door of our hearts. Love came wrapped not only in a blanket, but in flesh and blood. He didn’t ask who we were, or what our beliefs were; He already knew! But it doesn’t matter anyhow, because God loves us whether we realize it or not. He loves us whether our lives are falling apart, or intact.
One of Satan’s greatest lies is getting us to believe we’re doing so well, that we don’t need God’s help. But the all-knowing God (Omniscient God), saved us before we were born and before we knew hardship or luxury. In fact, most of us who have friends or know people, are willing to defend them and vouch for them if we believe they’re innocent of a charge. If we think they’re good people deserving some respect, we’ll stand up for them. But if they cross us, betray us, talk behind our backs, we dump them. But God overlooked all OUR faults and still decided to have Jesus die in our place so that we might live with Him at His place.
“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare die. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7,8).
That’s Love!
“Rushing waters cannot quench love; rivers can’t wash it away. If someone gave all his estate in exchange for love, he would be laughed to utter shame” (Song of Solomon 8:7 CEB). Nothing can ever stop it! Why not? Because “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). The greatest of all gifts is love and that’s God Himself!
Love wraps bandages on injured people. Love cared for a wounded, near-death Jew on the Jericho Road (Luke 10:25-37). Love opened the eyes of the blind (John 9:6). Love caused the lame to leap with joy (Isaiah 35:6)! Love went to the cross not for good and sinless people; but for vile, sinful, lying and murderous people. You might draw the line here thinking, “Now wait just a minute boy, I ain’t no chicken, I says, I ain’t no chicken, boy; I’m a rooster.” Oops! Wrong line! “Now wait just a minute!! I never killed anyone-yet.” That may be so, but you and I were not loving God. We had ordinances written against us. Meaning, we’re born guilty. Many believe that had we been at the cross, we would have been cheering the soldiers on. We were hating Him before knowing Him. We surely weren’t loving Him: “We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). “There is no one righteous, not even one: There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10,11 NIV). “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).
Love took our sins upon Him becoming unrighteous so that we as sinners could take upon ourselves His righteousness. “For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Love endured lies, accusations, disbelief, rumors, betrayal, abandonment, loneliness, shame, nakedness, and complete brokenness for us. Ultimately, Love conquered sin and death at the cross.
Were this just a love story, we’d get Hallmark to feature it on TV. This is a death and life story. It’s the only story letting others know that although they’re spiritually dead, they can be resurrected. In other words, it’s not a story to remain within books to be read by few. No, it’s to be shared with the world. It’s meant to bring joy to the world. Let’s love others. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him, shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).
God Bless,
Sam