What is love, really?

This Valentine's Day as we celebrate love all around, many people are looking forward to having a night out with their significant other or others are looking forward to relaxing it out on the couch with a good movie and popcorn. Whatever, your choice to celebrate this day of love, do it with one thing in mind: We wouldn't be expressing this love without Jesus.

The book of John is my favorite book in the Bible. I was reminded as I read John 15:12 of Jesus' commandment that we love one another as He has loved us. He commands us to love like He does. He doesn't give us a choice as His follower, but we are to take action in love just like He does towards us. And He didn't promise that it would always feel good either. Sometimes it hurts to show love in action when we don't feel that the person deserves it. But that's the wonderful thing about Jesus. He didn't ask us to feel it. He told us to do it because He had to do it too. And may we not fool ourselves to think that He always felt it. Remember the garden scene? He didn't want to die! But His love for the Father overrode His emotions and on towards obedience He went. When we obey, our feelings will catch up because our love for God will also prevail.

The type of love that Jesus challenges us with in John 15 is called "agapao" in the Greek. It means a love shown through the direction of the will. It's the type of love we are to express towards those we consider to be enemies. It's a love that expresses compassion. We have to will ourselves to show this type of love because we're not going to always feel like it. It takes discipline and sacrifice to crucify the flesh that may be fighting against you to show this love.

So, let us be mindful that it's good we're expressing that feel good type of love today on Valentine's Day, but don't forget the "agapao" love that we are to walk in every day as Believers as well.

Just a little food for thought. Enjoy your special Valentine's Day! May you have an enjoyable and beautiful time today. God Bless!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord, we thank you once again for another day to celebrate love and laughter. We want to first acknowledge your love and the love we have for you. We salute you for being the author of love for without it we would have no hope in this world. Thank you for being you, Lord! Amen.