While sorting through all my earthly possessions in an attempt to minimize unnecessary “stuff,” I came across a box containing cards and notes from old friends and acquaintances, many with which, regrettably, I have lost touch. It made me realize there must be something special about written affections that makes us hang onto these things long after their authors are gone.
Walk into any greeting card shop during this time of the year, and you will surely see young and old searching for just the right card that will express their sentiments of love to someone special in their lives. Millions of such cards will be purchased and given out, but is it possible the most important messages of love will be overlooked?
Notes of Affection
God has written notes of affection to you and to me—for us to read over and over, to cherish, and to find strength, hope, and the reassurance that we are loved.
“I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”Jeremiah 31:3. “The love of God still yearns over the one who has chosen to separate from Him, and He sets in operation influences to bring him back to the Father’s house. . . . A golden chain, the mercy and compassion of divine love, is passed around every imperiled soul.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 202.
“His banner over me [was] love.” Song of Solomon 2:4. “Arise and go to your Father. He will meet you a great way off. If you take even one step toward Him in repentance, He will hasten to enfold you in His arms of infinite love.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 206.
“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine. . . . Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee.” Isaiah 43:1, 4. “The same power that Christ exercised when He walked visibly among men is in His word.
. . . The Scriptures are to be received as God’s word to us, not written merely, but spoken. . . . So with all the promises of God’s word. In them He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power.” The Ministry of Healing, 122.
“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah. 54:10. “Human love may change, but Christ’s love knows no change. When we cry to Him for help, His hand is stretched out to save.” The Ministry of Healing, 72.
“How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” Psalm 36:7. “O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.” Psalm 40:11. “Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee.” Psalm 63:3.
“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13:5, 6. “I trust in the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy.” Psalm 31:6, 7. “But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1. “Such love is without a parallel. Children of the heavenly King! Precious promise! Theme for the most profound meditation! The matchless love of God for a world that did not love Him!” Steps to Christ, 15.
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:16–21. “God is love. Like rays of light from the sun, love and light and joy flow out from Him to all His creatures. It is His nature to give. His very life is the outflow of unselfish love.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 77.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35–39.
Never has man written such words of affection as these! They all are sent to you, because God loves you more than you can know. If you ever forget that, just open your collection of God’s love notes and read any one of them.
Gift of Love
Quite often when we are sending a card to someone to express our love for them we also send a gift, like flowers—fragrant and beautiful flowers for those who have brought beauty into our lives—or a box of sweets, for those who have brought sweetness into our lives.
God was not satisfied with just words on paper either. No, God gave us the best, the sweetest, the most wondrous gift of all. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16, 17. “What language could so forcibly express God’s love for the human family as it is expressed by the gift of His only-begotten Son for our redemption?” Testimonies, vol. 8, 208. The greatest of all gifts of love comes from the very heart of God—overflowing with love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and life abundant and eternal.
These words of affection and the Gift of love from God are not just for a few people on one day of the year. They are for everyone, every day of the year! May Christ “dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:17–21.
Anna Schultz writes from her home near Sedalia, Colorado. She may be contacted by e-mail at JSchu67410@aol.com.