Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 NIV
From the opening words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43 comes a question followed by an answer.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
While Elizabeth wrote this poem about her husband, Robert, it captures the level of love we should have for Christ and one another. Not the romantic love of which she was motivated but with the same passion.
As God's cherished children, we have encountered his passionate, perfect, and pure love. By the manifestation of God's grace living within us, we have intimate knowledge of what it is to be loved and how to live in love. In response to his beautiful gift, we show our adoration to God with praise, worship, and devotion to one another through caring and compassion.
Thank you, God, for your pure and perfect love. Each new day you bless us with your grace. Help us love you and one another with the same passion you show us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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