Christine's Corner: Three Thoughts About God’s Love For February

Walk into any store in the US in the month of February and you’re bound to find a display designed to remind you how you can show your sweetheart your love and affection via chocolates, stuffed animals, flowers, or cards. As soon as the Christmas decorations are packed up, it seems that Valentine’s Day is “next up” in the seasonal aisle. While the over-commercialization of the holiday can be irritating, Valentine’s Day can be a great time to reflect on love. Here are three simple thoughts about God’s Love for you to think about this month.

• There are many different types of love in the Bible, and different Greek words to express it. The highest and holiest form of love is agapelove. Agape love is perfect, and sacrificial. Agape love is more than just mere sentiment. Agape love is shown through action.

Something to try: write the word agape on a paper heart and put it somewhere

you’ll see it as a reminder to practice and share God’s love with all.

• The Bible tells us that God and love are inseparable. The book of 1 John, chapter 4, verse 16 says this God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. (NRSV). God and love are the same. If we feel love, we feel God and if we feel God, we feel love. If you’re having trouble discerning whether something is from God or not, ask yourself if it feels loving or not.

Something to try: Try to memorize this verse. It’s short and easy to remember.

Try saying it every morning when you wake up and every evening when you go

to sleep. If you do it every day for a week, you will have the verse memorized!

• The famous “love passage” in the Bible is 1 Corinthians chapter 13. It begins “Love is patient. Love is kind.” Though it is often read at weddings, it’s a passage less about romantic love and more about the holy and pure agape love we mentioned earlier. It’s a beautiful passage to think about and to practice.

Something to try: Write down all of the qualities of love, in addition to patience

and kindness. Put your list somewhere you can see it to remind you of God’s

love.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Friends! God loves you! Have fun as you consider ways to share God’s love today and every day.

(Thanks to Traci Smith for sharing these thoughts in her weekly newsletter,

Treasure Box Tuesdays.)