ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

True Love

February is the month of love. Love is a strong emotion. We feel it, we see it in action, and did you know you can taste it? Last week, I heard a radio program talking about home cooked meals and how a meal made by one's Mom actually tastes better because of the love that goes into the cooking.

We humans toss the word love about casually with sayings like -"I love your new outfit;" "I love watching football;" or as my husband might say, "I love baked beans." Songs are written about it - Love Me tender, Love is a Many Splendid Thing, April Love. Ah, we humans do love love!

God's love, however, is far different from our touchy, feely, makes-me-feel-good kind of love. His love is perfect because scripture tells us, God is love. (1 John 4:8b) God's love is giving - "For God so loved the world that HE gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.' (John 3:16) 'By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us...'(1 John 3:16)

God's love is trustworthy. 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' (Hebrews 13:5) 'Call to Me and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know.' (Jer. 33:3)

God's love is enduring. 'Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you.' (Jer.1:5)

God's love is forgiving. 'To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.' (Daniel 9:9) 'Bless the Lord O' my soul Who forgives all your iniquities.' (Psalm 103:1a)

God's love is purposeful. ' I know the plans I have for you - to give you a future and a hope.' (Jer. 29:11) '..God our Saviour, desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.' (1 Tim.2:4).

God's love is just. 'The Lord will judge His people and have compassion on His servants.' (Deut. 32:36) 'The Lord is a God of justice, blessed be those who wait for Him.' (Isaiah 18b)

God's love is compassionate. 'The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.' (Psalm 145:14) 'I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried out and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.' (Psalm 34:4,6)

And on I could go. The Bible is full of examples of God's glorious love. I'm sure it would take us a lifetime to discover just how much He loves us. He has called us to be His children. He has chosen us, adopted us, accepted us, forgiven and redeemed us. We are indeed blessed. With Paul, I pray: '...that you being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.' Ephesians 3:17b-19…..Pat Earl (brian.earl@sympatico.ca) by way of Eternal Ink (eternal_ink@associate.com) and “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)