(no subject)
Isaiah 43The Savior of Israel
1But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt, Ethiopia,[1] and Seba as a ransom for your freedom. 4Others died that you might live. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
5"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west 6and from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. 7All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them."
8Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. 9Gather the nations together! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Can any of them predict something even a single day in advance? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth?
10"But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the LORD. "And you are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God; there never has been and never will be. 11I am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. 12First I predicted your deliverance; I declared what I would do, and then I did it--I saved you. No foreign god has ever done this before. You are witnesses that I am the only God," says the LORD. 13"From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can oppose what I do. No one can reverse my actions."
What a passage. i dont think i have ever read the words i love you in the bible. god has not lacked in expressing his love, by no means. But there it is, point blank "I love you".