March 1st begins the observation of the season of Lent – a time where Christians prepare themselves for the bloody sacrifice of Good Friday, and the victory of Easter Sunday, by spending time remembering. We remember who God is – that, in His sovereignty, He prepared a way for his wandering, rebellious, sinful children to return to Him, once and for all, through faith in His Son, and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We also remember who Jesus is – the Son of God, who voluntarily set aside his heavenly crown to be born of a virgin, to live, and to die, in fulfillment of promise and prophecy, to give us the hope of eternal salvation to all who would believe. We remember, too, ourselves, and the sin of humanity that made the cross necessary. It was for us that Jesus bled and died, and it was for us that His resurrection promised time without end with His, and our, heavenly father.
We should remember, too, the words of John:
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:7-11, NASB)
Easter is all about love: a Father’s love, a Son’s love, and the love of repentant children, who present themselves as a holy and living sacrifice – a gift of love, through faith, that is the only acceptable response we can have for the indescribable gift that was given to us in salvation.
So, as we prepare ourselves for Easter over the next forty or so days, let’s remember the love that made a plan, and the love that took a cross, and the love that gave and empty tomb. And, let’s remember that it was all for us, and respond with the gratitude and humility that is demanded of such an awesome gift. And, let our belief, our faith, impact our behavior. Let’s share some of that love with others; because, “if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
In His Love,
Bro. Heath
