He Loved Us First 

   “He seeks us before we dream of seeking Him; He knocks before we invite Him in; He loves us before we respond.”  (Bishop Fulton Sheen, “The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen: 365 Days of Inspiration”    

   When I stop to consider that God loves all men and women it totally amazes me.  Just think of what that means; He loved those who put His Son to death on the cross; He loved those who persecuted and tortured His followers; He loved even Hitler; He loves us even when we ignore Him and refuse to accept His love.

   His is the love that truly is, one that loves the other simply because they are there.  He desires our love even though we can never love as He does.  Even when we reject Him, when we turn from Him to evil, His love remains.  In His love He will forgive our failings and welcome us home.

   “But God proves his love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5: 8).  The history of the Israelites and the history of all peoples is one of God’s love.  We were created because of His love and only because of His love.  In truth, God has no need of us; but He loves us anyway, as a Father loves His children.  We can never offer Him the love that He gives freely to us; we can only strive to do our best.

    “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16).  No greater love exists.  What He seeks from us is that we love Him in return.  For this He offers eternal life. 

Your love is everlasting.

I can’t love as You do.

I offer You the best I have.

Help me to love You more. 

Amen