“. . . but the greatest of these is love.”

                                                1 Corinthians 13:13

Someone once told me that I say, “I love you” too much to too many people.

In response, let me first say this: I love you.

God’s agape love is the greatest gift we have. And it is the only thing that will remain after time ceases to exist. It soothes souls and calms fears. It changes lives. It takes broken hearts and begins to heal them. It lifts those up who are lonely. It gives hope when there is none to be found. It makes the world a better place.

I try to tell my congregation as often as I can how much I love my job and my church and them. Love em’ to death.

But why?

First, the Bible tells us that God is love, and if we’re made in His image, we better be loving everybody. I may not always like what someone is doing, but you better believe I’ll be loving them.

Second, I think if I tell all God’s children, “I love you” often enough, one day they will finally believe me. And that’s important. You see, when someone knows you love them, it makes it safer to say and hear hard things. And hearing hard things is the only way we will ever improve.

As long as we think everything is fine - when we make ourselves believe that is the case - nothing will ever change. But sharing those hard things and knowing it will not affect the love people have for each other works to make the world a better place.

So, once again, I love you all. I love you with the passion and compassion and grace and mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, and I am not ashamed to say that.

Eternal God you have given us love to carry us through a dark and threatening world. Thank you, in Jesus’ name, AMEN.