“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.” 1 John 4:7-21

{“When Grandpa and Billy entered their vacation cabin, they kept the lights off until they were inside to keep from attracting insects. Still, a few fireflies followed them in. Noticing them before Grandpa did, Billy whispered, ‘It’s no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.’

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A tourist stopped a local in a village he was visiting and asked; “What is the quickest way to the lake? The local thought for awhile. “Are you walking or driving?” he asked the tourist. “I’m driving.” “That is the quickest way!” the local said.”

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My high-school English teacher was well known for being a fair, but hard, grader. One day I received a B minus on a theme paper. In hopes of bettering my grade and in the spirit of the valentine season, I sent her an extravagant heart-shaped box of chocolates with the pre-printed inscription: “BE MINE.” The following day, I received in return a valentine from the teacher. It read: “Thank you, but it’s still BE MINE-US.” (Contributed by Brad Wilcox)}

What is the quickest way to develop a relationship with someone? What is the quickest way to build trust – to resolve the hurts – to move past the harsh words and the broken promises? I am not an expert on all things about relationships – but I do know that if we do not begin all interactions from the realm of G-d’s love, then we are missing one of the most important components of life and relationships – the unconditional love of G-d. The love of G-d is deeper than the ocean, and, well, lets let Randy Travis say it for us:

The love of G-d is:

….deeper than the holler, stronger than the rivers
Higher than the pine trees growin’ tall upon the hill
….is purer than the snowflakes that fall in late December
And honest as a robin on a springtime window sill
And longer than the song of the whippoorwill  (Randy Travis, Deeper Than the Holler)

I know Randy wasn’t talking about G-d’s love in his song, but the love of G-d is the Genesis of all love – at least that is what Christians believe. “For G-d so loved the world that G-d sent the only son, so that all who may believe may not perish, but may have eternal life.” It was out of love that G-d created, interacted, breathed life, and sent the Son. As such, shouldn’t we first accept the fact that G-d loves us, and then share love with others?

Pastor Dave