Issue 1, 1017 Looking For Love March 30, 2023
This morning’s image is obviously CGI (computer-generated imagery). Still, it was created from scratch in seconds, something that would have taken a human artist many minutes or hours to do.
The advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are both fascinating and frightening. I was looking at an AI image-generating site and decided to give it a go in their free section. You key in a brief description of an image, and moments later, it kicks out several.
With Easter coming up shortly, I asked the site to generate an image of a woman at the cross at sunrise. Perhaps a minute later (maybe less), it generated and brought up four possibilities. This was my favourite of the four. If I had wanted to spend some money, I am sure it would have given me many more options.
Some sites have expanded features with many artists having a go at creating your picture. Most sites require payment for membership or anything beyond basic samples. You must be careful to use filters to exclude nudity, profanity or anything else you might find offensive.
So what has that to do with today’s topic of looking for love?
The world is looking for love. Their theme song can be encapsulated in a line from a song “I was lookin’ for love in all the wrong places.”
We look for that love and fulfilment in other people, stuff, money, alcohol, drugs and more. We search to fill the God-shaped void created in our hearts while running from the only one who can truly fulfil us.
There is love to be found in family and close friends, but even the deepest love of the closest spouse can never fully fill that spot in our hearts reserved for God.
It seems almost trite, but the Bible declares that God is love.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:7-12
God doesn’t “have” love, one of His unique attributes is that He is love. He is the source of love and the fulfillment of love. He loves us and created us to love Him and one another.
God’s love isn’t the sentimental romantic love of a Hallmark movie or greeting card. It isn’t the love of a sibling or parent. It isn’t the erotic “love” the world sells. His love is a choice regardless of value, reciprocation, or cost.
God chooses to love us.
Think about that for a moment, “God chooses to love us.” That’s a stunning declaration. What is so loveable about you and me that God himself would opt to love us? Nothing. We are rebellious and prone to wander and forget Him. We are easily sidetracked, and even with Him in our lives, we can quickly look elsewhere for what only He can provide.
God loved Israel despite their constant rebellion, idolatry and spiritual adultery. Sometimes, God had to discipline Israel, often severely, but His love never wavered. It is no wonder that the Psalmist could sing,
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-3
This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem at Passover. In less than a week, the crowds that welcomed Him would turn on Him, and our Lord would be rejected, falsely accused, mocked, tortured and killed. We know the story doesn’t end there. He would be resurrected from the dead, seen by many, and ascend to heaven, where He waits for the Father to send Him back for us.
His love for us caused Him to endure all that pain. It was to pay the penalty for our sins so that we might be redeemed and reconciled to Him. He loved us so much that he died so we might spend eternity with Him.
He is the place to look for love and fulfilment. Jesus the Christ, the Lord’s Anointed One, is love. Only He can satisfy what we need.
Praise His name.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? Same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/ gleanings-1
_____________
We also have a website
https://gleaningsfromtheword.com
______________________________
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
___________________________________________
#Gleanings #theWord #devotional #gospel #death #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #KevinCorbin #god #life #GleaningsFromTheword #bible #Jesus #faith #christian #love #Christ #Father #Holyspirit #YHWH #yahweh #Jehovah #bibleverses #jesuschrist #bornAgain #church #prayer #theology #trinity #christianity #scripture #hope #truth #cross #AI #CGI #Easter #PalmSunday #Resurrection #Ascension #LookingForLove #1John4 #Psalm136 #Passover