THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD

by Hillary Krahn

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. -1 John 4:10

Have you ever been in love with someone? That kind of love where you want to know everything about someone and spend every waking hour with them? Or maybe you’ve dreamed about someone falling in love with you just like in your favorite Hallmark movie. You know the kind, two totally opposite people suddenly cross paths and at first don’t care for each other but then they fall madly in love and live happily ever after? Can I tell you something? There is someone who loves you. Loves you more than that puppy dog love that you see on TV. He loves you so much that he sent his only Son as a propitiation for our sins. Propitiation? That doesn’t sound like a very great word! It means that God’s only Son was offered as a substitute for us to appease God. He won God over for us!

1 John chapter 4 is an entire chapter about God’s love for us. It tells us where love comes from - spoiler, it’s God. It tells us that when we love others we are loving God and God lives in us. But most importantly it tells us about why Jesus was sent for our salvation. Because of God’s love! There are many people who picture God as an angry, judgmental god. Someone unapproachable who will do nothing but condemn you. That’s not the case. Yes, God holds all authority and will judge us all on the last day, but, the overwhelming message of the New Testament is that God loves us. God loves you, God loves me, he loves our neighbor. He loves us!! If you ever have one of those days where you start to doubt if you’re loved, or will ever be loved, or find yourself picking petals off a flower saying, ‘he loves me, he loves me not’. Remember this: You are a redeemed child of the heavenly Father. He loves you! So much that you are forgiven of all that you’ve done. Salvation is yours because you’re loved.

On this, Maundy Thursday, as we prepare for the day of crucifixion, the day salvation died on the cross, we recall this love freely given for us. A love that told us as he instituted the Lord’s supper, “This IS my body” & “This IS my blood...given for YOU.” This love that will suffer, die, be buried, but also the love that defeats the grave and promises us an eternal life because of his resurrection. Take a moment to sit with him today in the garden before he walks to the cross. Sit with him, and realize just how much you are loved.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me. Thank you for the salvation given to me through your only Son. Live in me that I may love others as you have loved me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.