February is the traditional month to celebrate love and every nation has its own great love story. The French have Napoleon and Josephine; the Greeks have Orpheus and Eurydice; and Egypt has Cleopatra and Mark Antony.
The Taj Mahal of India was built by Mogul Emperor Shahjakan as a loving memorial to his wife who died in childbirth. It took nearly 22 years to build and required 20,000 workers from all over India and Central Asia. The cost to build was ₹32 million. (Currency India)
However, the greatest love story in history is recorded in a book that required 1500 years to write by 40 different authors in three languages.
This book is the Bible, and it reveals the very heart of God who is defined by love (1 John 4:8), Unlike many lovers, the love of God for us is not based on our merit or lovability. When we were not lovable, God loved us. The Bible says: ” But God demonstrated his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5: 8).
Also, God’s love for us is not due to our love for Him. He loved us first. The Bible says; “This is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
However, there is at least one similarity between our love for one another and God’s love for us. That similarity is this: love extended must be received. I love many people who do not love me. Jesus Loved the people of the world, but the people of the world did not love Jesus.
God’s love is extended to us through His Son Jesus Christ: ” For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
The person who rejects Jesus also rejects the love of God. We receive the love of God when we receive Jesus into our lives by faith. If you have not done this, please contact me at RERJ56@gmail.com. I will be pleased to explain further.