1 John 4:7-11
Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love has not known God, because God is love. This is how God’s love for us was revealed: God has sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we may live through him. This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us so much, we also should love one another.
Dear Heavenly Father,
In this world, love is affected by our sinful nature, and it seems to be our simple feelings for one another. However, as much as Your Word teaches us about love, it goes beyond that initial feeling we experience for someone; attraction is just the starting point. Yet, when times get tough, love is the willingness to stand by someone and lift them during difficult struggles. Our pride likes to interfere, and we act based on desire, which can hurt others.
You loved us when we were unlovable, lost in our sins, and your enemies. No one would understand love without you; we lost it when we fell into sin. Thank you for sending us your Son and not discarding us as we deserve. Your forgiveness is something we should never take for granted; Jesus gave up all the glories of heaven to become like us and to go to the cross for us. As John wrote, this is love—that you loved us. Can we ever fully grasp the height and depth of your love for us while we are on earth? Not entirely, until we are in heaven with you.
This Valentine’s Day allows us to reflect your love for us onto others. May we forgive them as you have forgiven us. Moreover, let us tell those who don’t know you about your grace, mercy, and true love that comes from you. You sent your Son to suffer for us all, and that love comes to each of us by faith in Jesus. Lord, thank you for loving us. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Love is not the desire for another but forgiving them when they have wronged you.