LOVE: A few thoughts for Valentine’s Day

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
(John 15:13)

In this one verse we gain a biblical perspective of the very essence of love. True love is sacrificial, even unto death. We know God’s greatest demonstration of love is Christ’s sacrificial death at Calvary.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16)

I repeat, real love has at it’s core the sense of sacrifice; sacrifice even unto death. Now let’s look for a moment at how we’ve trivialized the word. I love those shoes…I love that show…I love my car…and on and on it goes. Really? You love any of the aforementioned and much much more to the extent you’d be willing to die to affirm the assurance of your love for such items?

Now I know, some of you are perhaps thinking, “Man, it’s Valentines Day; ease up on the love thing!” Believe me, I understand the “Day” incites feelings, words and memories of love. I remember all the way back to first grade, hoping Pam or Mary would put a Valentines card in my little decorated shoe box receptacle, that had some fuzzy stuff on the heart or animal adorning the front of the card. Everyone knew (even at the age of six) that the “special” cards meant a special affection.

I just want on this Valentines Day, as we express our love to a husband, a wife, a child or anyone else deserving of our love, that we understand and remember the greater implications of our expressed love. When I tell Linda, “I love you,” I want her to know it’s a love at any cost, even unto death. When I tell my children and grandchildren of my love, I want to be sure that my life demonstrates the love that scripture presents. The Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, articulates the priority of love.

“But now abide faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
(I Cor. 13:13)

Happy Valentines Day!