February 14, 2022 -- I John 2:15 -- Real Valentine's Day Love
/People deeply loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I John 2:15 ESV
Recently I had the privilege of traveling for work. While waiting for the flight and during the flight, I read the book “Worldliness: Resister the Seduction of a Fallen World”, edited by C. J. Mahaney. It challenges the reader to ask the question: what, or who, do I love more than the Lord my God? It is Valentine’s Day and many people are making all kinds of crazy statements about their love to their love. Such love might only be feelings based and will grow cold with the next argument or fight.
The positive side of the verse is implicit—the love of the Father. It is His love for you brings order to all your life and brings into proper perspective all the loves in your life which flow from the grace and strength of His love to you.
It is impossible to love others, truly and honourably love others, without first being filled with the love of God which is perfectly demonstrated and given in Jesus Christ. This love of the Father and the Son is guarded in you by the Holy Spirit. Such love as you have received comes at the great cost of Jesus Christ—His perfect submission and obedience to the Father. Love is sacrificial.
As a believer, drenched in, surrounded by, and filled with the love of the Father, you are able to love others selflessly. You are not dependent on the other person’s love for you. You don’t require the other person to be everything to you. It is God the Triune—God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit—Who is all things and all strength so that from the depths of His love you are able to love others, whether or not they love you back. You can love others when they struggle to love you back. You can love others, bearing all things, because Your Father in heaven showers you in His never-ending love. Such love makes for marvelous marriages. Such love brings friendship to a whole new level, where Christ is the anchor-point and the friends are seeking the best for one another. Such love makes for wonderful citizens of any country, because the citizens do not expect their leaders to provide all that is needed, they have all what is needed from the merciful hand of the Father, Who holds His people in the grip of His grace and His love.
Our Father in heaven, blessed and great is Your Name! Extravagant is Your love for Your people. Let the light and warmth of Your love, so perfectly given in Jesus Christ, be for us the fuel which the Spirit uses so that we will be a people who shine Your love appropriately and brilliantly to this sin-darkened world. Faithful God, help us to be faithful in living out covenant love within our homes, schools, churches, communities and workplaces so that the Light of Your love will be seen and believed by many. Let our lives increasingly reflect more love to You; in Jesus' Name we pray it. Amen.
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