Romans 5:7-8 ESV For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Today may be Valentine’s Day but if we are looking forward just three days we will find Ash Wednesday this coming week. What better way to celebrate the beginning of Lent than to celebrate the love of God for us. I pray you will be blessed as we begin our journey towards Easter!
Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
I don’t know about you but waiting is far from my favorite things to do. Yet surprisingly this verse is one of my favorites because it is written as if God could read my mind. (Oh wait…Yes He can!). You see when I go to the grocery store I need a list. First I have to write the list. Then- on the good days when I remember to bring it- I read the list and check off items while I am shopping.
This verse it written like that. Wait for the Lord it begins – then after we employ the courage God gives in the battle God reminds us on the way home -you still need to wait. Our job is not over. But the most important thing for us to know about the waiting is that we do not have to wait for the Lord because He is late. He asks us to wait because we are early!
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 ESV
Okay, so along with most guys I am pretty convinced that Valentine’s day is a gigantic scam concocted to manipulate us into buying chocolates and flowers one more time for our wives or girl friends. But I confess it is actually a lot of fun seeing her opening up my annual offering and who doesn’t love a good love story? Whether it be Cinderella and her slipper or Snow White and the Prince’s kiss we are all delighted when it gets to the wedding and happily ever after part. Though at first glance, it may not seem very romantic, the greatest love story of them all is in the Bible. Today’s verse points out that unlike the beautiful princesses, in the fairy tales, the ones God rescues are not innocent beauties. Instead, God has fallen in love with a bunch of scruffy, sinful and selfish human beings – yup that’s you and me!
Wondering why God would ever do this is a great question for another day, but for now, let’s just look at how God went about making us His own. Our verse begins by saying that, just like Cinderella God rescued us. We were also prisoners, except that we were in that condition not because anyone tricked us, kidnapped us or put us under a spell but because we chose to live a selfish life. But amazingly, God didn’t just leave us there, instead He came to our rescue. And the verse goes on to say that next God redeemed us. Just like going into the pawn shop to buy back something that we put in hock, God found us, and willingly paid the price for our sin, by the cross of Jesus. Now we are His because He bought us with His own blood. Then comes the happily ever after part, when God brings us home, and rather than punishing us for our selfishness and sin, He forgives, washes us clean and sets us down by His side to live forever. Now who doesn’t think that living in Heaven with a God like that is not the greatest love story of them all?
praise2worshipdotnet 
You must be logged in to post a comment.