What It's All About!

Today is marked on the calendar as “Valentine’s Day” and is often celebrated by the GIVING of special tokens of affection. School children exchange cards in classes. Husbands may bring home flowers and chocolates for their sweetheart and wives may provide a special dinner for the love of their life. Those dating may also GIVE valentine cards and gifts to each other. All of this is done in the name of love! This is what love is all about; GIVING! If it is about taking it is not really love, but rather selfishness or perhaps even emotional extortion.

Jesus said…
“(12) This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (12) GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, that someone LAY DOWN HIS LIFE for his friends.” ( John 15:12-13 ESV)

Yes, love is a command. It is more than the sentiment of the heart or the tingly feelings we might have for another. Love is the decision of the mind to be GIVING toward another. Viewing love in this sense is the only way loving an enemy can be possible. (note Matthew 5:44)

Jesus here presented Himself as the standard of GIVING love. However, bear in mind Jesus even GAVE His life for His enemies with the desire they would appropriately respond. Laying down one’s life for one’s friends is often viewed as the ultimate sacrifice. Literally GIVING our life may actually be the easy thing to do for those we love because the GIVING is over and done with. Where the rubber meets the road in life is through the ongoing willingness to GIVE and GIVE and GIVE of our time and selves to others. The genuineness of our love is powerfully revealed in this way.

Cards and flowers are actually pretty cheap gifts. Yes, they are nice and the giver’s gift ought to be appreciated. However, let us recognize what true GIVING love is all about and how it is to be exercised on a daily basis. And we can do so in celebration of the great love God has for us because He got the ball rolling by loving us first! ( 1 John 4:19) May we help the world around us come to understand what real love is truly all about!

Have a great day MAKING LOVING ACTIONS A GIFT OF EVERY DAY!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Love