Daily Encouragement

“We love him, because he first loved us.”  (1 John 4:19, KJV)

There is chatter aplenty today on the topic of love, and rightfully so: It’s Valentine’s Day!

The scriptures tell us that we were always loved.  Loved before we had achieved anything.  Loved before we had become anything.  Loved before we had done anything.

The scriptures tell us that we were always loved with the purest love: God, because God is love.  He loves us on our bad days and our good days; and, as Paul related in the book of Romans, chapter 8: There is nothing that can ever separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.

The devil wants us to doubt the love of God.  Somehow, that fact got me to thinking of a story by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), who wrote a story titled, “The Ugly Duckling.”  (Click here to read the story.)  As you recall — or re-read — this wonderful childhood tale, did you see this important fact: The ugly duckling always was a swan!

Others may not see you as a swan, but God does.  Others may not treat you as a swan, but God does.  Others may tell you what you are not (and they may be right); but instead listen to what God says you are — and Whose you are.

He loved us at the beginning — and He loved us first.  He will love us at the end.  He will love us always.

Happy Valentine’s Day!  – Luther