You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16

Jesus made the first choice. He chose to love us. And that unwavering choice He made, embraced great sacrifice on His part. He knew the cost. He knew He would offer His own life for ours, so that we could spend eternity in His heavenly kingdom. Why? Because Jesus loved us first.

Jesus told us to go and bear lasting fruit. Not the kind of fruit that we pick from a tree and taste with our tongue. No, that fruit will not last –  it will spoil or mold. Jesus asks that the fruit we bear, drip with compassion, concern and affection for others. To show love. Why? Because Jesus loved us first.

Some people spend their lives in indecision; not sure if there is a god who will answer their prayers. This indecision prompts them to loose out on a perfect, loving relationship with The God. A relationship that God continually offers us to participate in. Why? Because Jesus loved us first.

God knows our flaws. He knows our mistakes of the past, our mistakes of the present, and our mistakes yet to come. And God can not live in the presence of our mistakes.  He knew this before the first sin occurred in the Garden of Eden. That is why He had a plan to save us from our sins. Why? Because Jesus loved us first.

Our strength is weak. We sin everyday in thought, word and deed. It is hopeless for us to believe we can talk away our sin, or partake in good deeds to erase or override any wrongdoing. There is only one way to wash away our sin and be cleansed in the presence of God. That is to be cleansed by the blood of Christ. Why? Because He loved us first.

A relationship with Jesus means we know Him, and He knows us. A relationship means we communicate with each other: asking, listening, understanding and depending. And our intimate relationship gives us access to the Father, who loves that we love His son. And why did we chose to love Jesus? Because Jesus loved us first.

To order my new book, Lift Him Up don’t Pull Him Down, go to Lulu.com or Amazon.com.