http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+4:19&version=NIV1984
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20cor%2013:4-7&version=NIV1984
Today is Valentine’s Day. And it also happens to be my brother’s birthday. Of course, Valentine’s Day is a very special day in our culture. The theme is very simple - love. Love for that special someone in our lives. Usually this love involves someone of the opposite sex. Such as our spouse. Or a boyfriend or girlfriend. Of course, that love can also extend to others as well.
Because of its very nature, Valentine’s Day is well-liked. After all, what is there not to like about love? Everybody wants to be loved. Male and female. Black and white. Young and old. Rich and poor. Even those who are cynical. Who have given up on love. Deep down they want to be loved as well. When we receive love, we are happy. Fulfilled. Satisfied. We look at the world through the proverbial ‘rose-colored glasses’. However, when we don’t receive love, when we perceive ourselves to be un-loved, we are not happy. Instead we are depressed. Discouraged. Disillusioned. We become envious of others who are loved. We grow cynical about the power of love. In some cases we might even become suicidal.
Since love is so essential to our well being, we actively search for it. All the time. We look for love from a parent. A friend. A teacher. A neighbor. A co-worker. Anyone really. And when we find it, we want that love reaffirmed. Often. This reminds me of the funny couplet, “Do you love me or do you not? You told me once but I forgot!” The fact is that we need love in the same way that we need food. We need a constant supply. We need it affirmed over and over. This is precisely why Valentine’s Day is so important. It provides us with an opportunity to have our love from others affirmed. And to express it to others.
By it’s very nature, love can’t be kept to oneself. Hoarded. Stashed away. When one is truly loved, they want to share it with others. First of all, they will reciprocate that love with its source. But they will also share their love with others. Family members. Friends. Neighbors. Complete strangers. It doesn’t matter. This is the nature of love. When a person is full of love, they invariably want to give it away to others. To share it.
Now, as Christians, we understand that God is the source of all love. In fact, not only does all love come from God, God is love. It is the very essence of His nature. Since God is love, He is happy. Content. Fulfilled. There is no lack in His being. And since God is love, He gives that love freely to others. To people who love Him in return. And to people who don’t love Him in return. To people who are angry with Him. Or despise Him. Or who deny His existence. Even to those who reject His love.
Of course, the all-time greatest display of love was demonstrated by Jesus’ death on the cross. A pure, holy, sinless God-man dying for the sins of people who rejected Him. Who had no use for Him. Who despised His love. It was love that motivated Jesus to pray for His enemies from the cross. Even though they didn’t deserve it. This is another aspect of love - its unselfishness.
In our day and age many people would probably say that atomic power is the greatest power known to humankind. After all, when a single bomb can destroy an entire city and all of its inhabitants, that is power. And yet, Scripture says that love is the greatest power known to humankind. Love truly does conquer all. It is stronger than hate. Or evil. Or prejudice. Or war. Or injustice. Or sin. This is why we, as Christians, are supposed to love others. Because it helps to advance God's kingdom. It has the power to penetrate and change even the hardest of hearts.
I hope that you know God’s love today. If you don’t, you really don’t know what (or rather who) you are missing. God’s love will completely transform your life. It will give you the joy, and peace, and meaning that you have been looking for. And it will transform the lives of others around you. Because once you have received God’s love it will naturally (shall I say ‘supernaturally’) flow from you to others.
If you do know God’s love, take a moment to thank Him for it. Take a moment just to breathe it in. To feel God’s love fill your entire being. As you do, your focus will change. All of a sudden you will be overwhelmed by God's love. Smothered. Consumed. The result will be that His love will flow out to others around you. Family. Friends. Neighbors. Co-workers. Even enemies. In so doing, their lives will be touched. Affected. Changed. This is the awesome power of love. Love that comes from the heart of an awesome God!
Lord, thank you, thank you, thank you for Your great love. Love that has invaded my life. Life that has transformed me. And which continues to do so. Love that is so amazing I can’t comprehend it. I can’t live without. I can’t keep to myself. Help me to live in Your love daily. And to be a conduit of Your love to the world around me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Of course, the all-time greatest display of love was demonstrated by Jesus’ death on the cross. A pure, holy, sinless God-man dying for the sins of people who rejected Him. Who had no use for Him. Who despised His love. It was love that motivated Jesus to pray for His enemies from the cross. Even though they didn’t deserve it. This is another aspect of love - its unselfishness.
In our day and age many people would probably say that atomic power is the greatest power known to humankind. After all, when a single bomb can destroy an entire city and all of its inhabitants, that is power. And yet, Scripture says that love is the greatest power known to humankind. Love truly does conquer all. It is stronger than hate. Or evil. Or prejudice. Or war. Or injustice. Or sin. This is why we, as Christians, are supposed to love others. Because it helps to advance God's kingdom. It has the power to penetrate and change even the hardest of hearts.
I hope that you know God’s love today. If you don’t, you really don’t know what (or rather who) you are missing. God’s love will completely transform your life. It will give you the joy, and peace, and meaning that you have been looking for. And it will transform the lives of others around you. Because once you have received God’s love it will naturally (shall I say ‘supernaturally’) flow from you to others.
If you do know God’s love, take a moment to thank Him for it. Take a moment just to breathe it in. To feel God’s love fill your entire being. As you do, your focus will change. All of a sudden you will be overwhelmed by God's love. Smothered. Consumed. The result will be that His love will flow out to others around you. Family. Friends. Neighbors. Co-workers. Even enemies. In so doing, their lives will be touched. Affected. Changed. This is the awesome power of love. Love that comes from the heart of an awesome God!
Lord, thank you, thank you, thank you for Your great love. Love that has invaded my life. Life that has transformed me. And which continues to do so. Love that is so amazing I can’t comprehend it. I can’t live without. I can’t keep to myself. Help me to live in Your love daily. And to be a conduit of Your love to the world around me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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