Two of the foundations of the Christian faith are: Number one, Christ rose from the dead and number two, Christ died for us. Christ dying for us points to Gods love. The Bible says that, “God is love.” And love best demonstrated is an action of giving. For God so loved that He gave. We are no more like God, than when we love, care and give.
Love is seen and demonstrated in so many ways on so many occasions. Valentine’s Day, or as my friend calls it, “Singleness Awareness Day”, is one of them. It symbolizes love and romance, but love is not only an emotion or a feeling, it is also an action and a choice.
Jesus demonstrated love and revealed God to us. But in John’s gospel chapter 13:34 He says to his disciples, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” What’s interesting about this passage is He hasn’t yet demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice of love by dying—He had only demonstrated love by how He lived.
He said that, “I am to love as He loved.” What was He talking about?” He was talking about His deeds, words, attitudes, and actions. He was talking about how He listened, how He lived, how He gave, how He helped, and How He encouraged others. He was talking about how He loved unconditionally and treated people with dignity. We are to love one another as He loved.
- He blessed and served the poor and sick.
- He had compassion on the outcasts of society and those in need.
- He shared his time with people, teaching them, helping them, praying for them, and encouraging them on how they could live.
- He helped those in need and never let an interruption inconvenience Him.
- He treated everyone the same and without partiality.
Valentine’s Day is a day where we celebrate love and romance, but at the foundation of our Christian faith is love. We love Him because He first loved us. The Bible declares that we will be known by our love. And Paul said in Corinthians: “Let all that you do be done in love.” Therefore, Love is the foundation of our faith, but it also an action and it is also a choice.
Let’s break this verse down:
Let—to cause, to make happen, to give opportunity to, to allow it to be so.
All—any and every manner, all things and in every manner.
That—the person, thing, or idea that has been indicated or mentioned.
You—second person singular, and individual matter.
Do—to bring to pass or carry out another’s wishes.
Be Done—to become, or to come into existence. To begin to be, or to come to pass and to make happen.
In(with) Love—brotherly love, affection, compassion, good will, kindness, consideration, love, and benevolence.
The New Command that Jesus introduced in this passage in John was, “Love God with all of your heart, strength, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself.”
I believe that we will never truly love others until we love ourselves, and we will never truly love ourselves until we know and understand the love of God. That is: the love that He has for us.
We show love to others by demonstrating respect, showing kindness, having compassion, being understanding, and manifesting goodwill.
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
Maybe the saying is true: People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Therefore, let’s give love a chance to work in our lives. Remember, we are no more like God than when we love, give and serve. Let’s demonstrate love and allow everything that we do, to be done in love!
