Jesus Skeptic: What do you do with love?

Relationships. 

We all are involved in relationships to some extent. And a key part to any close relationship is love. We love our family and friends. We have a special connection, a tight bond, with these people.

King Solomon declared that there is "a time to love" (Ecclesiastes 3:8) and that men should "enjoy life with the woman whom [they] love" (9:9). 

When Jesus was finished eating breakfast by the sea after His resurrection, He asked Peter three times if he loved Him (John 21:15-17). Peter, of course, answered in the affirmative. 

Paul, instructing parents how to relate to their children, tells them to "not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord," (Ephesians 6:4). In other words, parents are supposed to be loving-- patient, long suffering, involved. 

We all experience these close, loving relationships firsthand, on a daily basis for most of us. But if it were not for God, would we have these? 

Where does love come from? How could animals, whom evolved from slime through a process lasting millions of years, ever design such a structure that accounted for selfless love? 

The simple answer is that we would never be able to experience love if it were not for God. In fact, the Scriptures affirm that "We love, because He first loved us," (1 John 4:19). 

God has given you every good gift (James 1:17) and has made you special, set apart from all other creation (Genesis 1:26). He has designed humans who are made in His image in likeness to experience love and fellowship, especially with Himself.

You see, part of the common blessings we all partake in include these aforementioned relationships. But grace speaks of one relationship: the one with our Heavenly Father. God's grace has appeared in Jesus Christ and we are now able to fellowship with the Lord.

Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to LOVE God (Matthew 22:36-38). Will you love Him today?

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into morning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."
James 4:8-10, NASB 

[If you're reading this on Sunday morning, go to a good church!] 

GOD BLESS YOU