“I have loved you,” says the LORD.

— Malachi 1:2a

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;

— Psalm 103:11

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

— Jeremiah 31:3

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

— John 3:16

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

— Romans 5:8

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Through Prophet Malachi, God said to Israel, “I have loved you.” He speaks the same words to us today. Malachi wrote a book magnifying God and His great love. The entire Bible reads as God’s book of love for all of humanity. God’s love began at creation, flowed forth to Israel, and overflowed to the entire world. Through Jesus, God gave His ultimate and most sacrificial expression of love.

God “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God’s love is uncontainable. We cannot fully comprehend God’s immeasurable love. When we take a moment to ponder the unfathomable depth of God’s love, we are amazed by the fact that we are undeservedly and unconditionally loved by the great, almighty, perfect, holy, and one true God. Since we enjoy the vastness of God’s love, how will we love Him in return?