God's Great Love

 

Please click here to listen to a beautiful song sung by Fernando Ortega.

Loving and Giving

Note: Below is an excerpt from a newspaper column I wrote in 2001. I'm sharing it again since the idea it expresses remains true for today.

In a Christmas card I received last year, a friend had written, “Every year I like to sit down and re-read the cards I received the Christmas before.” I decided to do that, too.

After re-reading a card from one of my first employers, I paraphrased its message and used it as the introduction for this year’s annual Christmas letter. 

Throughout the year, 

but especially at Christmas, 

we remember the special people in our lives—

the wonderful people 

we’ve been privileged to know and love. 

The people with whom we’ve had good times. 

The people who’ve helped us during difficult times. 

The people who’ve been thoughtful and caring. 

The people who’ve touched our lives

in ways we will not forget… 

Following the writing of that introduction and the re-reading of all the cards, I realized anew this simple yet profound truth: 

A heart that loves, gives.

The special people in my life have done exactly that, as has God who “so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, New Living Translation, emphasis added).

Love—whether that of God's "love gift" of a Savior or the love of others expressed in diverse ways—is the perfect gift for everyone!

The Greatest Truth

John 3:16 and following

An outstanding Bible scholar was asked, "What is the greatest truth you've discovered in all of your years of studying the Bible?"

Without a moment's hesitation, he said, "Jesus loves me; this I know. For the Bible tells me so."

Indeed! The Bible is filled with assurances that we are loved more than we can imagine. For example, in John 3:16, Jesus affirms the great love He and His Father have for us:

For God so loved the world, 

that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, 

but have eternal life.

In John 14:21, Jesus gives yet another affirmation of His love and God's love: 

He who has My commandments and keeps them, 

he it is who loves Me; 

and he who loves Me 

shall be loved by My Father, 

and I will love him, 

and will disclose [reveal, manifest] Myself to him.

John 14:21