He first loved us

Yummy Valentine's Day cookies that got eaten up before the actual day!

Happy Valentines Day, dearies! I hope this day finds you all surrounded by a loving family, and sharing your love with others. As we think about today, the holiday for love, let us not forget the Greatest Love of all.

Love. It's crazy! What is it? Is it an emotion, a choice, a lifestyle? It is multi-faceted. Love for family, for friends, for spouses, for God. We even find different kinds of love, if you will, in the Bible. However, I think the best way for us to define love and how it relates to us is this: 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.                                   (1 John 4:7-11)

I like to call that the "love chapter." 1John 4 is absolutely terrific! In that passage it gives the message of the Gospel: God loved us and sent us his only Son so we can live. It reminds us that we are sinners, and that we did not love God, but He loved us. Notice how it uses the word beloved. John's use of the word means: very dear, esteemed, favorite, and worthy of love. Wow! Continuing on in the chapter we see what life is like when we have the love the Lord and His Spirit living in us:

 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us.  (1 John 4: 17-19 emphasis is mine)

That last sentence gives love a whole new meaning to me. We learn in just eight simple words that the source of all love is from God. He created it, and gave it to us. That is the only way we can love, and we learn from Him. 

Dear friends, on this "love" day let us not get so wrapped up in mushy cards, candy, chocolate, and flowers that we forsake our First Love like the church in Ephesus did (Revelation 2:4). On the contrary, we should remember constantly the ultimate source for love- our Heavenly Bridegroom Jesus- and share His love with those who need it. 

Love your secret admirer, Libby (well I guess it's not a secret anymore!) :D