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The Seed of All Love

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:16-19 (ESV)

On this Valentine’s Day as our hearts are drawn to thoughts of love and romance, it’s important to remember the true source of that which we cherish; God loved us first, and from that precious, perfect seed all love springs forth.

With Open Arms

“”Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.” – Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)

No matter how far we’ve fallen, or how deeply we believe we’ve grieved God, He still loves us and pursues our return to His fold.  When we truly seek God’s forgiveness and lay our burdens at the foot of the cross, He welcomes us with open arms.

Every Saint Has a Past

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” – Romans 3:22-24 (NLT)

None of us lead, or have led spotless lives.  By the very natures of the earthly shells that contain us, we’re in a constant battle against sin.  Thankfully, through God’s benevolence and Grace we’re made whole by our faith in Christ Jesus, and our desire to draw closer to Him.  Oscar Wilde summed it up beautifully when he wrote, “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.”

It’s About a Relationship

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” – Philippians 3:8-11 (NLT)

While belonging to and attending a church, participating in worship services and being involved in ministry can absolutely help bring us closer to God, only through a deep, personal relationship with Christ can we truly experience the peace, majesty and love our Heavenly Father offers us.  It’s not about a religion, it’s about a relationship.

The Most Powerful Act of Love in History

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

For many, the onset of February brings thoughts of love to the front of our minds.  However, as we’re inundated by the seemingly endless procession of bright red gift boxes and jewelry advertisements, it’s important that we remember the single, most powerful act of love in history; the divine birth, life, death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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