February 14, 2017 - WORDS OF LOVE

Day 44 - Leviticus 18-19 & Matthew 27:32-66

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:45-46 ESV

He was a third century priest. He chose to disobey the Roman Emperor and obey God instead by secretly marrying young couples. He was arrested and tried. One of his judges, a man by the Asterius, had a blind daughter whom Gold healed at the prayerful behest of this man. He was convicted and sentenced to death. He wrote a final note to the daughter of Asterius and signed it: “from your Valentine.” Or so the legend goes concerning the origins of Valentine’s Day.

From the cross, Jesus spoke words of love that eclipse any attempt we humans may make to convey love: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

These words show God the Father’s great love for us sinners. Jesus spoke these words in love so that you and I will never have to. He was expressing the doom of the damned...being forsaken by God.

Thank God He love us so! Now there is a way out from under the burden and the curse of our sins. We who confess our faith in Jesus and repent of our sins are forgiven and guaranteed heaven. And we love God for this. In fact... We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 ESV)

1 God loved the world so that He gave
   His only Son the lost to save,
   That all who would in Him believe
   Should everlasting life receive.

3 God would not have the sinner die,
   His Son with saving grace is nigh;
   His Spirit in the Word declares
   How we in Christ are heaven's heirs.
   “God Loved the World So That He Gave ” Lutheran Service Book. CPH # 571 (1,3)

O dearest Jesus, thank You for Your great love for sinners like me. Thank You for speaking the words of the damned in hell for me. Help me now to lovingly share Your love with others.  Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf