Love Letters Genesis 1:1 - Revelation 22:21
I love my little girl. She is cute. She is sharp. She is loving. She reminds me of my wife in many ways. Now believe me, I know she will one day turn into a teenager. And I hope that all the teenage boys will stay far, far away from her. But I know that one day she’ll get something in the mail, e-mail or text message that will resemble some sort of love letter. It will be her first love letter and do you think she’ll put off opening it? No. She will grab it, run into her bedroom, slam the door behind her and start reading it over and over again. She’ll have it committed to memory by suppertime. And the questions will start coming, “What did he mean by that?” “Do you think he’s nice?” “Do I really like him?” “Does he really love me?” And it will take a team of Clydesdales to keep me from throwing away the letter and hunting that teenage boy down like this Spring season’s turkey.
But I know love letters exist and I’m pretty sure my wife and I have given and received some in our lifetime. I’m notorious for keeping everything that is mailed to me and I still have a love note she put on my car windshield when we were dating. I love and savor that note not only because it is cute but she made sure to leave a red kiss mark on the paper for me - you know, just in case anybody would forge a love note and leave it on my windshield.
If I were to ask you if you kept any old love notes or letters I wonder how many of us would produce enough evidence to convict us in the court of the romantic? I’m sure a lot of us. But if I were to tell you today that there are thousands and thousands of love letters written to you, would you want to know where they were? Would you want to open them? Would you be curious who wrote them to you? Would you take the time to ask the questions, “What did He mean by that?” “Do you think He’s nice?” “Do I really like Him?” “Does He really love me?”
You see this Bible, the Word of God, is full of God’s ultimate love letters to you. Written in red and more timeless than any diamond, these love letters open up to you and I the reality of how much He really does love you, how costly His love is for you, how far He will go to show you His love and what He does to make His promise of love come true.
This morning I want us to try and get to the essence of these love letters by looking at each book, from Genesis to Revelation. We need to try and savor each of His words for us as He tries to bring us close to His heart. And I hope that as we whirl through His words, you not only get a picture of His love for you but that you would respond. Open them up again and again and again and see how completely He knows and loves you. As you listen, pick one or two books that speak to you. So hold on tight, get ready to write, let’s go:
Genesis - He was before you were and He wanted to create you. And despite our curse of sin He already had a plan to bring you back to Him. He has promises since the beginning.
Exodus - He knew that you were slaves and yet He would lead you out of the wilderness and give you such freedom to live and love within His great Commandments.
Leviticus - He is a jealous God. Not wanting you to be impure and running after gods that couldn’t or wouldn’t love you.
Numbers - He is your fire by night that numbers each of us as a part of His family. His love for you even while you wander.
Deuteronomy - His reminder of the law that means to protect your heart and relationship with Him. How you will be blessed if you follow Him and His covenant.
Joshua - God being true to His Word and how much He loves you. He will bless you. He will lead you to the Promised land.
Judges - Even when you turn your back on God over and over He still finds a way to set you free if only you say you’re sorry.
Ruth - When you are faithful to Him you move from emptiness to fullness; from hopelessness to hope. He is your redeemer.
First and Second Samuel - God protects you from your enemies and promises that one day the real King, His Son - who walked this earth as the fullness of love, will come.
I and II Kings - When you are suffering from the consequences of breaking His heart with sin He still tells you that you two have a future together.
I and II Chronicles - He reminds you what you’ve been through together and He made no mistake choosing you as His.
Ezra - That when you are broken down He seeks to rebuild you into something better if and when you seek forgiveness.
Nehemiah - He continues to rebuild your broken life even when people around us don’t want to see the two of you together.
Esther - God lavishly prepares a feast for you when you have courage - even when you don’t think He is there.
Job - Because you are faithful to Him there will be tough times. Even when you go through tough times, God will speak.
Psalms - Your love songs and prayers in response to who He is.
Proverbs - How God stirs up your mind and shows you how to live wisely with Him and His plan for your life.
Ecclesiastes-The world is empty but God’s love is complete.
Song of Solomon - God’s love for you is enticing, beautiful, spontaneous, powerful, intense, precious and it is a gift.
Isaiah - God’s love is untainted and pure towards you. And when you cheat on Him He still offers restoration and compassion if you turn back towards Him.
Jeremiah - God tells you the truth when you go astray. And tells you there will be a New Covenant written on your heart.
Lamentations - God hears you when you suffer from your own sin and He still offers you hope, love, faithfulness and salvation.
Ezekiel - God is the first to act in His love towards you and His love for you is not limited by other’s sins or your own.
Daniel - He is your rightful Lord. And He is with you when danger is all around.
Hosea - God is forever faithful even when you aren’t. He longs to take you back. His love will not let you go.
Joel - When you repent after treating His love so badly you will be refreshed, restored and renewed through His love.
Amos - It is His arms that carry you after you have been broken by sin.
Obadiah - He loves you enough to save you and deal with those who hate your relationship with Him.
Jonah - He loves everyone even when you don’t.
Micah - God hates it when you cheat on Him but loves to give you forgiveness when you apologize and repent.
Nahum - He is your source of strength and He’s your shield.
Habakkuk - You can be honest with God and you can trust that He will make things right even when you don’t see it.
Zephaniah - God pleads with you to come back to Him.
Haggai - He is ready to restore your lost heritage with Him. When you are in covenant with Him it will bless and strengthen you.
Zechariah - God is personal and He remembers His promise to send His Son to restore you forever.
Malachi - God’s love doesn’t change in His commitment but you must turn from chasing other gods in order to fully experience this kind of love.
Matthew - Jesus comes to fulfill all that God promised before.
Mark-Jesus comes to tell and show you what love is in the flesh.
Luke - Jesus is the Son of Man who seeks and saves the lost. Jesus, Son of God, suffers so that you may be fully loved by God.
John - Read John 3:16. Jesus is God in flesh, so that you might believe. Jesus shows you what love is so that you may love perfectly like God.
Acts - By His Spirit He spreads His love and truth through you to those who do not know what real love is.
Romans - The road to His love is clearly mapped out for those of us who have lost our way.
1 Corinthians - His love purifies you. In your communion with Him He requires honesty and discernment.
2 Corinthians - When you love God completely, people will question that and you must respond in love and outreach.
Galatians - Showing you that God’s gift of love is free and does not have to be earned. His love will set you free.
Ephesians - God’s love is seen in the church when harmony and unity exist with brothers and sisters.
Philippians - When you remove from yourself every shallow thing and fill it with God’s love, you will be raised up and you will see the wonder of His grace and majesty.
Colossians - Nothing else in this world or other worlds can redeem you and complete you more than the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians - He will come again for you. He has not left you.
2 Thessalonians - His coming will be in His perfect timing and not because of your impatience or your disbelief of His love for you.
1 Timothy - Showing you how to love Him in worship and to stay strong in your relationship with Him despite the world around you.
2 Timothy - Your love for Him is not cheap and requires perseverance, courage and patience - even when death is near.
Titus - God teaches you how to do what is good and how to be a good teacher of the truth.
Philemon - God wishes to bring back together those who have run from Him. God shows you that this can be done with humility and strength at the same time.
Hebrews - Jesus is the complete and superior form of love for you. This love letter testifies on behalf of THE Love Letter.
James - God’s love regenerates you and transforms you. His love should be evident in you and you should examine your life to see if your love for Him is true.
1 Peter - How God’s love transfigures us into a spiritual house, a chosen people and a stranger in a fallen world.
2 Peter - When you truly love Him you will grow and be able to discern true love from false.
1 John - God is described as light and love. Your relationship with Him is proven when you walk with Him and each other in light and love.
2 John - When you love God with a pure heart it is noticed and blessed by Him.
3 John - Those who love God are to be welcomed by you. Even if you don’t know them personally-God knows them intimately.
Jude - God is the jealous lover coming for His bride.
Revelation - God consummates His love for you when He comes back. He promises that Satan can’t touch your love for God. God will forever destroy Satan. Then His beloved bride, the church, will join Him in eternal glory and blessing.
*Which book is the most important? Whatever one helps you fall in love with Him - The Great I Am, Immanuel, the King of Kings, the Alpha and the Omega, the author and perfector of our faith. Amen.
