Love is in the Air

Love is in the Air!
Love is in air!  With Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love, being on February 14th, it is the time of year when we often go out of our way to show the people who we care for just how much we love them.  Stores are filled with cards, candy hearts, stuffed animals, flowers, and more suggesting that this is just what our loved ones need.  TV shows and movies suggest that a dinner out or a weekend get-away might be the answer.  But what is love?  Who are we to love, and just how are we to show this intense affection?  The Bible answers all of these questions!
What exactly is Love?  According to Google, love is defined as an intense feeling or deep affection for a person.  Synonyms for love include words such as affection, devotion, fondness, infatuation, and appreciation.  In comparison, The Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV), says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”  So, what is true love?  When we truly love someone, we should be patient, kind, and rejoiceful. We should be proud and happy of their successes.  We should not be envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, irritable, resentful, or insist that we must do things our way.  We should not be happy when they fail or do wrong.
Who is it that we are to love?  Generally, we reserve showing this intense affection for our spouse, fiancé, family members, and good friends. However, in the Bible, in Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV), Jesus says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  In Luke 6:35 (ESV), Jesus says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”  So, who is it that we are to love?  We are to love God, all people including those who we may not agree with, and ourselves.
How are we to show our love for others?  This is the tough part!  Anyone can say the words “I love you”, but how do we show it? In Ephesians 4:2 (NIV), the Bible says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”  In Romans 12:9-10 (NIV), the Bible states, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Lastly, John 15:12 says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”  With that being said, it was God who has modeled the ultimate gesture of love for us! He allowed His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins.  He did this so that we might live with Him in heaven for eternity!  Romans 10:9-10 states, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” So, how is it that we are to show our love for others? We are to love ALL others just as God has loved us!
Just how different would our world be today if we truly loved everyone the way that God loved us?  I challenge each of us to be the change on this Valentine’s Day and every day thereafter! Show each person that you encounter the love they deserve! Have a blessed Valentine’s Day!
By:  Kara Hendrix