Incredible Love

As I study the Scripture in preparation for Sunday morning, the next passage in our series is the last 2/3 of I John 4.  I had never noticed this before, but in verses 7-21 the word love or a form of the word love is found 28 times.  Count them.  This is a divinely inspired passage where it is clear that God wants to emphasize something that is a critical part of the human experience.  Love is incredible.  Think about it.  There have been more books, more songs, more poems, and more letters and notes that are inspired by love than by any other topic.  The opportunity to love is incredible.  I am blown away by the thought.  It amazes me not only that God would or even could love me, but also that another human being could actually love.  Yet the capacity to love is inherent within every human that has ever been born.  I know that it is within me, because I have had the opportunity to love.  I have personally loved many people in my life.  And I have been told by a few that I am loved.  What an incredible blessing.  What a special honor...to be loved by another.  I count myself to be rich because I have been loved by some very special people.  And I suspect that to be true of everyone.  All of us have been loved, and the people who love us are special, because they love us.  That is reason enough to consider them special.  I am so grateful for love.