Although love has many sides, a few of which we will unpack today, none has more depth and power than the love we experience from God.

Would you take a moment to reread our scripture verse? It is the most famous verse of the Bible. And it is the best picture of God’s love for you and for me. His love for us is unmatched. It is pure. Honest. Comes from a place of deep resolve.

Because deep love embodies sacrifice, it’s hard to have one without the other. Love is risky and wonderful. It’s crazy-making and satisfying. Raw and real. Authentic and unpredictable. And believe it or not, God loves us in all those ways, even in spite of our shortcomings.

A trademark of Valentine’s Day is the love letter. Have you ever received a love letter?

It’s a lost art—the handwritten letter. The imperfection of inky letters that flow from a heart on fire makes the handwritten letter beautiful and unique. I don’t know about you, but the thought of receiving a love letter causes my heart to soar, my face to blush, and my emotions to swoon.

Remember the love notes we passed through the hallways back in middle school? The ones that had check boxes for answers, adorned with lots of hearts, and folded with corners tucked in creative ways? It was exciting to discover what was inside. My guess is that at one time or another, every one of us has enjoyed receiving a love letter.

Well, the Bible is God’s love letter to us. It is the quintessential love letter of all time. After all, there is no one who knows you deeper, will challenge you more, or thinks your beauty is more unrivaled than He. We often get caught up in the corrections and admonishments of His words, but then, we miss the revelation of His heart.

Beyond our love for God, and because of His love for us, we are able and equipped to love our family. To love our friends. And to love others romantically. We are divinely designed for love—to be loved, and to love.

When it comes to loving people or being loved by people, it can be challenging. We carry a lot of baggage that affects how we love others. We may have to work hard at it. Or maybe tear down a personal wall or two that has been constructed as a survival technique.

So, in order to be successful at the Christian life, it is important to know “how” to love. We do this by learning from the ultimate example of how God loves us through the challenges of our lives.

In your fear, let Him love you.

In your anger, let Him love you.

In your pain, let Him love you.

In your loneliness, let Him love you.

He promised His love will not fail (2 Timothy 2:13). Not only that, but His love for us is unchanging—sturdy and infinite; so unlike our experiences with human love.

Human love is frail. That’s why God gives us so many instructions on what love is, or better yet, should be—patient, kind, protective, hopeful, honest. He also gives us a list of things love is not—does not boast, envy, dishonor, or keep a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Regardless of where you find yourself on this journey of love—in faith, friendship, family, or romance—we are called to love so don’t be scared of it. And yet, don’t be consumed by it either. The beauty is found in the balance of the two.

Learning to love is about growth. It is a building project. One brick at a time; one on top of the other. A little mortar here and a little there to make it all stick together and prove strong.

Reflect and Respond:

Take some time this week to read this letter of love written from God’s own providential pen… Look up any or all of the scriptures to experience His full intention of love for you.

To you, my Love,

I know everything about you.  Psalm 139:1 

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.   Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.   Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.   Matthew 10:29-31

All your days are written in my book.   Psalm 139:15-16

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.   Psalm 139:14 

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.   Psalm 139:13 

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.   1 John 3:1 

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.   James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.   Matthew 6:31-33 

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.   Jeremiah 29:11 

Because I love you with an everlasting love.   Jeremiah 31:3 

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.  Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.   Zephaniah 3:17 

For you are my treasured possession.  Exodus 19:5 

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul.   Jeremiah 32:41 

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.   Jeremiah 33:3 

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.   Deuteronomy 4:29 

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart.   Psalm 37:4 

For it is I who gave you those desires.   Philippians 2:13 

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.   Ephesians 3:20 

For I am your greatest encourager.   2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I will comfort you in all your troubles.   2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.   Psalm 34:18 

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart.   Isaiah 40:11 

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.   Revelation 21:3-4 

And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.   Revelation 21:3-4 

I love you.    John 17:23 

(Adapted from http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html)

Hugs for a great week and remember, you are not alone. Be blessed and know that…you…are…loved.

Scriptures:

2 Timothy 2:13; If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.