February is all about the love. We focus on our affection for others and ways to show it. It’s the month we work harder than normal to actually put actions to our feelings and sentiments. As Christians though, shouldn’t we live that way every day? Shouldn’t we be marked by the love of God?
There is a song many of us are familiar with…
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love
Our culture uses love selfishly. We are sold the lie that you show love when you are certain it will be reciprocated. And you use love to your advantage to meet your needs. Jesus, of course, taught a completely different theology. He loved us first. He gave sacrificially, not because of what we could offer Him, but simply because He loved us.
We love because he first loved us. – I John 4:19
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8
This kind of love is hard to fathom. Yet, when we as believers love others in this way, sacrificially, unabashedly, tangibly, the world takes note. When we put our own needs aside and consider others, people see that we live and love differently.
How do we do that when we face the daily grind and hard relationships? How do we not become bogged down with weariness and become jaded, especially as ministry leaders?
To live lives marked by love, we have to be deeply connected with the author of love. We need to have locked eyes with the one who loves us perfectly and be filled by His life-changing love until it begins to bubble over and spill out of us. This is when people begin to see us naturally love others as well.
The world doesn’t need scripted random acts of kindness or programs designed to show love. They need people forever changed by an intimate relationship with the lover of our souls. There is no perfect formula for this except simply seeking Him.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13
As seasoned believers, most of us know this, but during this month of love, what a timely reminder to plug back into Him and to reconnect with the one who knows us best. We cannot minister well and love well without being connected the author of love. And in turn, when we teach and lead people well, the greatest gift we can give is to point them directly to Him and His perfect love.
So, I hope as I celebrate this month of love, the gifts I give will not simply be chocolates and greeting cards, but a life marked by love.
How will you reconnect with the One who loves you most?
