The Word Love – John 13:35

Text: John 13:35

The word love was tossed around a lot yesterday (February 14^th).

• Somewhere a second-grader gave his secret sweetheart a pink card with a few mints taped inside. He’s loved her “forever”… since almost the beginning of the school year, if not longer! He discreetly watched her open it, and hoped nobody saw.
• A couple of sixteen-year-olds exchanged cards and candy yesterday as well. Deep down she thinks he may be the one. She’s pretty sure she loves him.
• A young married couple celebrated their first Valentine’s Day, and their affection is deeper, more meaningful, than it’s ever been.

Millions of other couples at different life stages said “I love you.”

Most meant something slightly different when they said it.

Love for some has endured challenges, perhaps many challenges, over times:

• Career struggles
• Health problems
• Loss of loved ones
• Empty nests

Love changes over time, doesn’t it?

The love we share now isn’t the same as it was when we were younger.

And it won’t be the same a year from now, or a decade after that.

Shared experiences add a depth, vitality, a genuineness, to love… these qualities mature over time.

What we’re searching for, stretching toward, is genuine love.

• Not the cards-and-candy, Hallmark kind of love.
• Not the warm fuzzy feelings kind of love.
• We’re aiming for love that’s truly self-sacrificing, other-focused.

We never quite get there, at least not all the way.

But as believers we know what it is, and we try to feel it, practice it, and live it.

It’s perfectly demonstrated only in God’s love toward us, of course. When he lived for us, when he died for us, we get a glimpse at what love really is.

Valentine’s Day may be over-romanticized and too commercialized, but at the root of it is a longing in each of us.

To love and be loved.

To experience a kind of love that’s not tied to what we deserve, and love that we extend even when it doesn’t feel good.  Especially when it doesn’t feel good.

In the midst of all of yesterday’s cards and chocolate, think again about what love really is.

Let it cause you to get on your knees and thank God for loving you when you were rebelling against him.

And let it remind you that the love you’ve received is the love you’re to give to:

• Spouses
• Children
• Parents
• Fellow believers
• Co-workers
• The unlovable
• Everyone

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  (1 John 4:9-10).

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have lovefor one another.  (John 13:35)