What we Love

Today is Valentine’s Day - a day set aside in the US to celebrate the love that we have for someone. It’s typically the role of the man to plan and put together something for his lady - maybe a gift, dinner, or some combination of those things. Social media feeds are filled with stories of love and romance…enough to make some us throw up a little.

As I was thinking about this, and working on my sermon for this weekend, I began thinking about all the things that people love. I love my wife. She really is my favorite person. My kids. My dog (even if I don’t always act like it). I love my friends and church family. I love my view as the sun sets. I love a steak that is cooked right. There are all kinds of things that I love, but it’s not a true Biblical love unless it keeps Christ at the center.

My wife and I got married 1 week after high school graduation. Most people, including our parents, assumed we would be the typical young love statistic - and we would have been - if it weren’t for Christ. Jesus is at the center of our relationship, showing us not only how to love, but how to forgive and how to have grace.

Jesus’ love was a sacrificial love. One where He was willing to give up everything for the ones He loved - us. Jesus’ love was a patient love, not waiting on us to get our act together before acting on His love. Jesus’ love does not keep a record of wrongs because all of those wrongs have been forgiven already.

Our love for others needs to be more like Jesus’ love for us, and just as Jesus chose to love us, we need to choose to love others. We need to love, forgive, and show grace just like Jesus did because there is no better example of love.