February is generally considered the month of love due to Valentine’s Day. While our culture can be fickle with what love is and looks like, there is one steadfast example of what real love looks like and does: God. God has been very clear in the Bible that his motivation behind his actions have been love.
“For God so loved the world that he gave…” (John 3:16).
“But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
God has shown us that real love involves giving and sacrificing. Words are not enough. It’s our actions that prove our love for others.
Jesus demonstrated God’s love for all mankind while living on earth by loving everyone – the oppressed, the despised, the poor, the disadvantaged, even those who hated him and persecuted him. Even at the height of his suffering, he was loving and merciful toward people.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Seeing how much God loves and how greatly we are loved by him ought to stir our hearts with the desire to pour out the love we have received. The apostle Paul understood this and exhorted the people of Ephesus and Philippi to love greatly.
“Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of mind.” Philippians 2:1-2
This month, let’s love like Jesus – giving freely without reservation or judgment. Everyone is worthy of love. God had no boundaries or restrictions for who he loved and neither should we.
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