When Love Begins

After having a baby your perspective changes - no matter how many children you have. For us, it is number two. The other day, I held our 2 week old baby in my arms and once again in her short life so far told her how much I loved her. I told her something, and then stopped to think about what it means. I told her that I loved her ever since I knew of her existence. I did not just start loving her on July 14, 2009 at 1:49pm. I have loved her since I knew of her.

This is not the case with God. A few Sunday's ago we were singing about the love of God and it made me think - God did not just start loving me when I was conceived or born. He has loved me forever. Catch that - God has loved me forever, He has love YOU forever. God is infinite and eternal meaning that He has always loved and will never run out of love. Also, He never changes, so His love for us never changes. That is unlike my love. My love is finite - it has a starting place. God's love does not. Not only is God's love an action (John 3:16), it is an attribute (1 John 4:8)! Love is who God is.

How do you respond to this love? How do you respond to the infinite, eternal, unchanging love of God? Is He your Lord? Have you made Him Lord? Do you love Him back? Our love for Him should be greater than any love we have. Doesn't He deserve it?? Reread this hymn by Frederick M. Lehman:

1. The love of God is greater far
   Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
   It goes beyond the highest star,
   And reaches to the lowest hell;
   The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
   God gave His Son to win;
   His erring child He reconciled,
   And pardoned from his sin.
   • Refrain:
     Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
     How measureless and strong!
     It shall forevermore endure—
     The saints’ and angels’ song.
2. When hoary time shall pass away,
   And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
   When men who here refuse to pray,
   On rocks and hills and mountains call,
   God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
   All measureless and strong;
   Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
   The saints’ and angels’ song.
3. Could we with ink the ocean fill,
   And were the skies of parchment made,
   Were every stalk on earth a quill,
   And every man a scribe by trade;
   To write the love of God above
   Would drain the ocean dry;
   Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
   Though stretched from sky to sky.