"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10

Have you ever received a love letter? If so, you know the excitement that bubbles up within as you eagerly rip it open to read what the person you love has written for you. You just can’t wait to see what’s inside! Well, the Creator of the universe has written you a love letter—how often do you read it for yourself? Sadly, so many of us forsake reading the Word to instead listen to people who are reading it. Many prefer the middleman over the source. It is understandable why this is an easy ditch to fall into; the Bible can be challenging to read. Many times, you have to read something over and over to even begin to understand the beauty and depth of what is being said. But that’s kind of the point. The Word is meant to be meditated on, requiring all of our lives and beyond to unravel the truth found in it. Like a love letter, it is meant to be cherished and recited over and over, deepening your affections for the Author. 

Podcasts, commentaries, studies and the like are great resources, don’t get me wrong. But they shouldn’t be the primary way you receive the Word of God. Would you want someone else to open, read, and simply summarize a love letter addressed to you? I certainly wouldn’t!

In opening The Letter, we find the greatest love story ever written. It’s the story of the Bridegroom who pursues His chosen bride, even while knowing that she will be unfaithful to Him. Even further, He gives His life up for her as payment for her wrong actions. He forgives her of her infidelity freely and only asks in return for her to be His alone and repent. We read, reread, and dwell on this story to remind ourselves of who God is, what He has done, and how kind His heart is toward us. We remind ourselves that we play a role in the story as the unfaithful bride whom the groom relentlessly pursues. Knowing that we are unfaithful, it is easy to be discouraged. So, it is important to understand the love that is reserved for us. Paul prayed for the Ephesian church in Ephesians 3:18-19 that they: “'may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” When this reality truly sinks in, it completely transforms where we look for affirmation and security.

Because the Word points out where we fall short, the world often sees it as a long list of rules. Yes, the Bible is the revealed word of God and certainly gives objective moral truths, but the overarching story of Scripture rests on the mission and love of Christ. Just as 1 John 4:10 says, He has revealed to us in The Love Letter that it’s not that we loved Him, but that He loved us and sent His Son. Jesus is the Word made flesh and the love of God made manifest. We have fallen short but God has chased after us in His mercy and kindness so that we may have life and have it to the fullest.  The Bible gives us the answers for where to find “the good life”, joy, and contentment. Read it, and you find that they are all found in Him.