So, most people either tend to hate or love Valentine’s day, no pun intended. If a woman, or romantic type of guy, you may be motivated by mushy words and gifts from a spouse or friend. If not this type of person, or not in a relationship, you may poo-poo the foo-foo of people celebrating seemingly superficial things, or just a chance for someone to make a buck or two off you. I often tell my wife that I don’t love her more or less on any given day, but still get her a card or dark chocolate as a small reminder that she is loved. What do you think, is it good to show your love on some days more than others? What is love?
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10
If you are much like me, then maybe you grew up thinking love was just strong feelings for another person, as that is pretty much what we are bombarded with in movies, music, and most media. I would guess about half of most pop songs have something to do with a love related theme and ask such questions as ‘what is love’, ‘where did our love go’, ‘where is the love’, as well as ‘tainted love‘, ‘let your love flow‘ and countless others. Maybe you had your heart ‘broken’ in High School by being rejected, or when who you thought was the love of your life turned out not to be so. We often used the term love in a frivolous way as an attraction toward something…I love cheesy fries, or I love that girl I just saw for the first time, etc. How did your understanding of what love really is change from something so selfish to something selfless?
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
We often hear the phrase ’love is a verb’, which basically means it is something you do, and not just something you feel. It is demonstrated in selfless actions toward another in how we put their needs above our own. Ask any parent what they have done to show love to their children. You may have heard the different Greek forms for love including Agape, Eros, Philia, and Storge, which each depict a certain aspect or type of love. The primary one used in scripture is Agape, which is the type of unconditional love demonstrated between men and God. Looking at examples of this helps us understand it, share it, and experience it more and more.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
So maybe you don’t get into the hype or commercialism of trying to show someone your love when everyone else does on a holiday, but hopefully you take time to show and share your love in some way each day. The more you share it and receive it, the easier it gets to be a natural part of your life. What greater way to show someone you love them than to share the Good News of the love of God in Christ! It is the gift that keeps on giving as the love it contains has no end. May you be blessed and know you are loved today and always!
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Yours in Christ,
Clark
