I Love You
If you look at the typical American relationship, who would you think says “I love you” first? Is it women? Is it men? In a fairly recent study, 64% of respondents said women were more likely to say “I love you” before men. But in reality, that simply isn’t true. 62% of the respondents claimed that in a previous relationship, the man said “I love you” first.
Sound surprising?
At first I thought so. But the more I read my Bible, the more clear it became to me…men are simply following the example that God first gave us.
God has constantly said I love you to us first, even before either person in any other relationship said it.
Let’s look at some examples.
Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”
Psalm 32:10-11 “Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD . So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!”
John 3:16-17 “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”
Ephesians 3:19 “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Our Lord has loved us…always and first. And guess what, He doesn’t require that we love Him in order to receive His love. As a matter of fact, He knows that our love will not measure up to His standard that He actually came to earth and DIED for US out of LOVE!
Can the story be any more tragic? Think about it. The King is sitting on His throne. This is the same King that has given everything to His people. Given them every opportunity to obey. But regardless, the people of the kingdom disobey and turn away from Him. So He sends His son to go in front of everyone and die as a sacrifice for our disobedience. Isn’t that THE saddest story you have ever heard?
But thank God the story doesn’t end there!
After 3 days of feeling lost without their King, the stone rolls away. The ground shakes. The angel appears and the shroud falls away. At that point, our King emerges, alive and all-powerful. He claims His right to rule again, defeating death and the grave.
His love conquered death.
So let me ask you again. Is it men or women who say “I love you” first. Both are wrong.
It was God.
boyradd 