“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” 1 John 3:16
February 14, 2024
Walking into a grocery store the day before Valentine’s Day is visually dazzling. Balloons, flowers, strawberries, and candy offer a chorus of “buy me.” That’s not a bad thing. However, the way our culture has abused the word love demands some clarifying thoughts. The last living apostle of Jesus, John, wants us to know that the Christian who hates is not motivated by the new life within placed there by Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 3:15). Drafting on that truth is the corresponding truth that costly love spills one’s blood for the sake of others. Sappy Hallmark TV love stories, and popular culture in general, are vacant lots when it comes to where the model of perfect love is to be found. True love is self-sacrifice for the good of others. The supreme example of which is Jesus having laid down His life for His sheep. He did this voluntarily (Jn. 10:11-18). He died to prove God’s love (Rom. 5:8). He died in order that we might not die. It was an act of substitution. If you want to send a genuine Valentine on any day of the year, seek the good of others, saying no to our own life so that somebody else may live. What is my love for others costing me? Costly love uses one’s material possessions for those in need.
H
“Father of everlasting love, may your love find display in my everyday life.”