Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium emphasized that God's love is the starting point for every evangelical effort. Without immense confidence in God's love, a person cannot take God's word to heart. Think of the parable of the sower (who is God) casting his seeds into good and bad soil (the hearts of men). The seeds of God's word only flourish in the good soil. But what makes the soil good? It must be tilled and prepared. It must be made ready.
Some people have naturally ready and open hearts, but many of us are cautious, closed, distrustful, even afraid. We can't always feel the love of God. But we can stir up that love like stirring up a fire that has grown low. We can practice gratitude, we can seek out beauty, and we can feed on God's words of love to us.
Here are some Bible verses that touched others' hearts. Let these verses stir up your love for God. And feel free to add your own in the comments!
1. He knit you together in your mother's womb (Ps. 139:13).
2. Even if a mother forget her child, he will not forget you (Is 49:15).
3. You have ravished his heart (Songs 4:9).
4. As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you (Is 62:5).
5. His plans for you are for good and not for evil (Jer 29:11).
6. He will refresh you when you are weary (Jer 31:25).
7. He will heal your broken hearts (Is 61:1).
8. He will take away your sickness (Dt 7:15).
9. He will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Rev 21:3-4).
10. He will cover you with the robe of righteousness (Is 61:10).
11. He will not leave you lonely (Jn 14:18).
12. He will never forsake you (Dt 31:6).
13. He will stay with you always, even to the end of the world (Mt 28:20).
14. He has come that your joy may be complete (Jn 15:11).
15. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 Jn 4:16).
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Interestingly, I don't find John 3:16 or the end of Matthew 28 in the list:
ReplyDelete"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."
"Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.' "
The end of Matthew 28 is on the list already -- #13. But John 3:16 would have been a good addition, you're right!
Delete"How often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" (Matt 23:37)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Nona! That is such a terrific one. Such a sense of yearning. God's love for us is so often unrequited!
DeleteThis quote haunts me: I am so mindful of how often I "would not!"
ReplyDeleteIndeed, God's love for us is, as you say, so often unrequited....
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