Love comes from God

Valentine’s Day is about over and hopefully we didn’t neglect to show the people we love and those around us how special they are to us and to God.

It was easy for me to assure my family of my love for them. Each year they look forward to my heart-shaped Swedish sugar cookies with the pink butter cream frosting and each special loved one’s name written on top. They know those cookies are a labor of love. Their appreciation, love and hugs bring me great joy.

More importantly, God assures us of his love everyday. 1 John 4:16 reminds us, “We have come to know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” Every day we rely on that love and yet we often forget to give God the joy of hearing our words of love and gratitude.

In a few days it will be Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. For those of us who observe Lent, it is a very humbling time of repentance as we follow the example of Jesus by sacrificing our own will to the purpose of God.

In 1st John, we read, “By this we know love, that He laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers…..”

Simply put, this means that Jesus showed God’s love when he laid down His life for all people. So as Jesus laid down his life for our salvation, Jesus wants us to use our lives … to lay down our lives … that others might be blessed and come to know His saving grace.

Valentine’s Day is over and Lent is about to begin. Both exemplify love – the love we have for one another and the sacrificial, everlasting love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:1

Thank you, God, for loving us.

Jan Knicely,

Associate in Ministry emeritus

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church