Dawn Waggoner / Executive Assistant

During the month of February our thoughts are often turned to the idea of “love.” As I was thinking of all that word encompasses, I decided to do a search in Scripture. I came up with over 680 verses (over 400 of those are in the Old Testament). As I was reading through them, I was struck again by how many were talking about God’s love for us. And not only that, but the depth and the richness of God’s love toward us… sinners, people in rebellion against Him, only wanting to please ourselves… And yet, He loved us enough to send His son, His only son, to die a horrific death so He could have relationship with us.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. ~Psalm 86:15

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
~Isaiah 54:10

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~Psalm 106:1

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! ~1 John 3:1

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. ~1 John 3:16

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
~Romans 5:8

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
~Ephesians 3:17-19

In response to this GREAT LOVE our God has lavished on us I ask myself, “Do I love God?” Do I love God more than I love my comfort? Do I love God more than myself? Do I love God more than my life? As I wrestle through the answers (not the easy “Yes, I do” answers, but the “Do I really” answers) I am reminded of these verses of what my life will look like when I love God:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
~Deuteronomy 6:5

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ~Matthew 22:39

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ~Luke 6:35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~John 13:35

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ~John 14:23

Do everything in love. ~1 Corinthians 16:14

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:8

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ~1 John 3:18

So I read these and I ask myself again, “Do I love God?” I am encouraged by a verse I found in Deuteronomy because on my own I am not sure I can love God. But with His Spirit and His help, I can.

The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. ~Deuteronomy 30:6

I pray you will find yourself today loving God… and “living.”