The God Who Chose Love Over Life

He died to prove that He loves you beyond His life. And that even death would not come between Him and you.

God had a choice. He could have decided to give us up to destruction. He could have chosen to preserve His Life. But He chose not to. He took the path that would cost Him everything.

God chose LOVE over LIFE.

And was crushed beyond recognition, that you might be made whole and beautiful.

He had put upon Himself your weaknesses, wounds and sores and, carried away your diseases, that you might be well.

Jesus wore a crown of thorns, pierced His head with briars, that you might be made whole in your emotions and mind.

Though He was infinitely rich, He impoverished Himself, that you might become rich beyond measure.

He laid down His life for you, that you might be forgiven. And was raised from the dead, to justify, prove that you were “Not guilty.”

Now, “Who could separate us from the endless love of God’s Anointed One?
Absolutely no one!
For nothing in the universe has the the power to diminish His love for us. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between us and heaven’s love. What about persecutions, deprivations, dangers, and death threats?
No, for they are all impotent to hinder omnipotent love.”

We triumph over all these things.
For the One Who loves us enough to go to hell for us has made us partners of His endless triumph.
We are more than conquerors. We are larger than life. His reckless and passionate love is our sure victory over everything!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Familiar lines, huh?
Marital vows!
Such beautiful words. I remembered when my wife and I took ours. It was with such deep emotions.

The union of marriage is such a beautiful gift. But much more thrilling is the fact that marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the believers, His Church. Christ is the Groom; and the Church His Bride. You’re His and He is yours. That’s why His Spirit came to live inside you permanently as a seal of His betrothal.

We are individually parts of His own body; “bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.” We have become one spirit with Him. The two have become one. One new divine creation.

It’s breathtaking to know that God, the Maker of heaven and earth, would allow Himself to be emotionally involved with us, that He would let His heart be bound to us forever.

God takes a peculiar delight in us. We are the objects of His boundless affection. He looks upon us with such pleasure and deep satisfaction.

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
(Zephaniah 3:17,
NIV)

God isn’t merely tolerating you. No! He loves you with such unthinkable affection. He delights greatly in you. He rejoices over you. That is, you bring Him such pure pleasure.

How my spirit is stirred up within me!
Such love!

Here is another wonder for you: God NOURISHES and CHERISHES you.

“For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church”
(Ephesians 5:29, ESV)

Nourish and cherish. These are words of deep intimacy. We will miss so much, if we don’t stay here a little longer.

What does it mean to NOURISH and to CHERISH?
When I looked these words up on the dictionary app on my mobile device, I came up with this:
To NOURISH means to feed and cause to grow; to furnish with nutriment; to supply the means of support and increase; to encourage; to instruct; educate; to bring up; to nurture…

And to CHERISH
means “to treat with tenderness and affection; to nurture with care ; to protect and aid.”
It also means, “to hold dear; to embrace with interest; to indulge; to encourage; to foster; to promote…”

Such infinite richness in just two words!

In a world full of fears and ill will, this truth brings with it such security. Such comfort and assurance. We can face each day with gusto, knowing that Someone has got us totally covered. He is the Almighty God, the One Who is madly in love with us. Our upkeep is His delight. He nourishes and cherishes us. He treats us with tenderness and affection. He holds us dear to Himself. And He is committed to protecting us in a world full of arrows and bullets. God is your Encourager. He is your Promoter. He is your Provider, and Comforter. God is everything to you.

Let this truth stump out fear from your mind. Give no more room to rejection, inferiority and worthlessness. You don’t have to feel helpless or not loved enough any longer. For the King of all the earth NOURISHES and CHERISHES you.

With much love.