"God's Love Letter"

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16 NIV)

When we moved into our present house we boxed up a lot of memorabilia and keepsakes for storage in Kyle’s basement. Among some of the things I had were dozens of cards and letters. Some of them were kind letters and notes of appreciation from friends and members of churches I had pastored over the past four decades; others were cards that I had received from Mary and the boys on birthdays, Father’s Day, and anniversaries. I couldn’t help but leaf through the pages and read some of the notes that were written over the years. There were funny notes, a poem, long and short notes, and there were the usual ones expressing gratitude and appreciation for some ministry performed. I must admit some of them were short and impersonal, but others were more personal notes from family expressing love. Oh, it was nothing mushy or sizzling. Yet, it was there, the sentiment, the feeling, and the warmth, all to be recalled in an instant.

All love is like that. Once it is expressed it becomes too great a feeling to repress. It has to come out of the soul demonstrating in a tangible way the overflow of emotion. A letter, a gift, a hug, a kiss, a touch. It has to come out in positive beauty for the recipient to see, feel, and make a response. And that's the fun part of love - receiving and responding to the affection. It is the hurried rush to the mailbox. Or, the impatience for the love-mail to download off the internet. It is the smile, the gift, the touch, the hug, the kiss. It's power overwhelms logic and reason. The Scripture speaks of its mighty force: "Love burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away" (Song of Songs 8:6-7).

Two of the greatest if not the greatest needs in the human soul are to give love and receive love. Love from another affirms our worth as human beings. All of us have an old love letter to cherish. No, it is not from your sweetheart. It is two thousand years old with its origin in eternity. This letter of love was written by God himself. It is not pinned with ink on paper. It is written from the bloodstains of His dear Son expressing the feeling that our great God has for us. It is beyond dispute or debate. We don't have to wonder if we are loved any longer. We don't have to wonder if we are worth anything or if we are unlovable or lovable. WE ARE LOVED!

It affirms our value. Someone has said, “The floods around us may uproot that which we hold dear and cherish, but the raging torrent can never quench the fire God has put in our soul from his love for us.” Like a lover in love, we rush to read his mail to us. We long to be in his presence feeling empty and incomplete without him. We receive his affection and enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise that He, the Almighty, the Creator, the King of kings and Lord of lords loves us. Receive His love and be affirmed. Express your love to Him and be complete. Laugh, giggle, enjoy and experience again and again his love letter to us. When your heart condemns you, affirm that God is greater than your heart and rest in his presence. When you have failed, know that God's love never fails you. When you feel orphaned and alone, know that great is the love that the Father has lavished upon us to call us His children. When you have been hurt deeply and are afraid to love again, know that God's love for you drives out fear to enable you to give love again. When you begin to doubt yourself and feel unlovable and unloved, remember God loves you! So, sit down awhile. You are not as in a big a hurry as you thought you were. Read God's love letter with Jesus by your side. Enjoy and reminisce as your heart soaks in his love making you long for the moment when you shall see Him face to face and know him even as he is known.