Forever Love

Do you feel loved? How much do you feel loved? Is the love you feel merely emotional, gushy, or fleeting? Or is the love you feel a committed, decisive, and long-lasting love? Do you know that God loves you? Do you know that Jesus loves you? Do you know Jesus is committed to you?

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day today, millions of people will give flowers, candy, or other gifts to show their love for one another. Typically, these gifts last a few days and are gone. Unfortunately, for some, their love for one another is just as temporary.

The love God has for us, and the love he wants us to have for our brothers and sisters in Christ, is not temporary. It is a committed love, one that is based on a decision to love one another. Our love is to weather the storms of life, even times when we disagree. We are to continue to love and care for one another, even if we are on opposing sides of an issue.

The love God has for us is to be the reason for us to come together in unity. It is the love Jesus has for us that is the reason for Him praying for us in John 17 (go read it if you do not remember His prayer). We should pray for one another in the same manner. We are to be just as committed in our love.

But make no mistake about it, we are loved, each and every one of us. We are loved by God. He has demonstrated his love for us by sending His Son to be our Savior. He continues to demonstrate his love for us through blessings, often blessings we do not see or take for granted. Perhaps on this Valentine’s Day, we will spend just a few moments thanking God for his love and committing ourselves to love him and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I pray we all know that we are loved by God. I pray we know that he is committed to us. I pray each one of us will thank God for his love and commit to loving him and one another. Know that God loves you. Know that Jesus loves you. Love your brothers and sisters. Love God. Love Jesus. Give thanks to God for his love.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.