That Was Then - This Is Now

We love God, because He first loved us. There is no reversal of that order. We know God, because He first knew us and called us by name. We cannot and do not come to a loving relationship with God except for Him having not only loved us first, but revealed His love to us. We may say "yes" to God, but it's only because He first said "yes" to us in Christ. We have faith, given to us by the Holy Spirit, only because God made Himself known to us.

Many people may hear about God, think about God as they look at creation, get this sense that there is a God, but there is no faith, no belief in God, no love for God, until God, through the Holy Spirit, having our "hearts enlightened", that we may know the hope to which He has "called" us. (Ephesians 1.18) God calls us, opening the eyes of our heart, that we then might respond to His call and be united to Him through Christ. This morning, may the eyes of your heart be opened and ready to receive what God will reveal to you this morning.