I hope you have enjoyed the last two days writings on love. When I read my Bible, I find love on every page. Look what I found this morning.
“Praise the Lord because he is good. His faithful love will last forever. Praise the God of gods! His faithful love will last forever. 3 Praise the Lord of lords! His faithful love will last forever. 4 Praise him who alone does wonderful miracles! His faithful love will last forever…24 He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love will last forever. 25 He provides food for all living things. His faithful love will last forever. 26 Praise the God of heaven! His faithful love will last forever.” Psalm 136:1-4, 24-26 ERV
Everlasting love! Never conditional, always the same, never-failing love!
Christmas Eve, we had the opportunity to attend mass with our granddaughter, grandson and most of the rest of the family. This was a wonderful service. I won’t be able to quote the priest completely so I will paraphrase.
He spoke of the reason for Christmas, the birth of Christ. He said that people look for peace but don’t find it without first finding love. Love brings peace. However, we don’t find love without finding Jesus and when we find Jesus that’s enough. We don’t need anything else. He is everything we need!
Amen!
I know that message will stay with me for a very long time.
God is love. He wrapped His love in a child and sent Him to earth. The life that Jesus lived was one of compassion. His life is our example for living. Jesus said this was the greatest commandment:
“He said, ‘Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?’ 37 Jesus answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and most important command. 39 And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ 40 All of the law and the writings of the prophets take their meaning from these two commands.” Matthew 22:36-40 ERV
Jesus was not proclaiming some new and novel teaching. These are the very same words that God gave to Moses in the desert as he was leading the Israelites to their promised land.
The greatest thing we can do is love God and then share that love with others. But where do we find such a love? I’m so glad you asked.
“Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child. And so everyone who loves knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him. 10 True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God. He sent his Son as the way to take away our sins…16 So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them…19 We love because God first loved us.” I John 4:7-19 ERV
The love of God endures forever and we are the focus of that love!