God opens the Book of Malachi with three words that set the foundation for everything else: 'I have loved you.' Before any correction or challenge, love comes first. Israel responded to that declaration by questioning it, asking what evidence there was of God's love after decades of hardship and exile. God answered by pointing to three dimensions of His love: He chose them in the past, He cares for them in the present, and He will vindicate His love in the future. His love is not based on performance but on promise. The ultimate proof of that love is found in Jesus Christ, who stretched out His arms on the cross as the final answer to the question, 'How have you loved us?' Receive that truth, and then go tell someone about it.
