Looking for Love?

Everyone wants the love and acceptance of others, but the longer we live, we come to realize people let us down. In fact, if we’re honest, people injure us, wound us, insult us, and disregard us, even our friends and family. Pick up a newspaper and you’ll see all kinds of trouble including murder, theft, deceit, slander, adultery, disrespect, etc. The problem, simply stated, is something the bible calls sin. When God created the heavens and the earth, and mankind, he never intended for his people to turn against each other or against Him, but they did. This is not everybody else’s problem; this too is our problem, simply stated in the book of Romans:

Romans 3:23

“For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

We have all fallen short of the standard God has set for his people. The first step in finding REAL LOVE is humility. You need to admit that you too have blown it and sinned against God. Now you may not have killed anyone, but Jesus said if you hate your brother you are guilty of murder! God also judges our thoughts and motives, and not only our actions. Additionally, sin is also defined as those things we know we should do but do not do. Again, if we’re honest, we’ve all made mistakes, some in thought, some with badly chosen words, and some in harmful deeds. Can you think of anyone you’ve mistreated? Are you tired of doing things that are self destructive, or doing and saying things that bring conflict and unrest into your own life? Jesus spoke of the blessings that come to those who finally come to the end of themselves and realize their own inability to fix their sinful behavior, and who long for a different way of life:

Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven,
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
Will be filled”

The bible describes this change in attitude as “repentance”. The New Testament records 59 instances of the word “Repent” which alone demonstrates the importance of this principle. Let’s look at how Jesus responds to his critics who saw Him eating and socializing with tax collectors and sinners:

Luke 5:30

And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

God calls us to change our attitude about our sin and turn away from our sinful behavior. Notice Jesus indicates he did not come to save the ‘righteous’ from their sin. Why? Because, their pride will not allow them to admit they are a sinner and in fact are in need of a savior. Pride will prevent many a man from knowing God. In God’s kingdom, the penalty for our sin is death as the book of Romans states:

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death”

Is there any hope you may ask? Yes, because we’ve only read part of the verse, let’s look at the entire verse

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:28

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. ”

God has given mankind a priceless gift, Jesus Christ, who has already paid for the sin we’ve committed by the shedding of his own blood on the cross of Calvary. In God’s kingdom, there cannot be any forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood as the book of Hebrews indicates:

Hebrews 9:22

“and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins”

Let’s look now at how the bible defines the greatest kind of Love:

John 15:13

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ”

God has already demonstrated to you that He loved you so much that he gave his only Son

Jesus Christ to die for you and your sins:

John 3:16

“For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son, that whomsoever
shall believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

Maybe you’re reading this article because you are looking for Love but nothing has quite worked out. Hopefully you understand now the price the God was willing to pay for your sin, and once you accept the payment for your Sins by repenting of your sins and receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you will have found the greatest love of all. The love of your Creator has designed you for an intimate relationship with him:

Colossians 1:16 - for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.

If you do want to receive Christ as your Savior, ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and cleanse you from your sins.  Next, tell someone else of your decision and look for a local church to attend. God will use the local church to teach you his word and help you to grow in your new found faith. You’ll need the support of other believers as you grow so this is a critical step as your progress in your walk of faith. Also, Please contact us so we can help you understand this decision that will impact you for eternity!