That's Love

This isn't about Valentine's Day.

Or sappy songs.

But this notion that we can love 

yet not accept God.

We are in a season where I think we all need to just take a minute and remember to love.

Not because it's February.

But because we were first loved.

God IS love.

Not just, God is loving.

Or God is a great example of love.

GOD. IS. LOVE.

His entire being is wrapped up in and all about love.

Therefore, we cannot love anything or anyone apart from Him.

He is the source.

He is love.

"We love because he first loved us."

1 John 4:19

My study notes in the NIV bible says about this verse that all love comes ultimately from God; genuine love is never self-generated by his creatures.

So, whether you want to acknowledge God or not, 

love comes from Him.

"And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

Since God IS love, it stands to reason that love will outrank and outlast anything else.

It is the guiding principle of EVERYTHING we are called to do.

When we let fear, anger or pride take the wheel, things take a turn and we end up somewhere we never intended to go.

We can speak eloquently,

possess incredible intelligence 

and have powerful faith 

but if we do not have love?

We are a just a loud clanging noise.

We are NOTHING. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Because the greatest thing we can do is love.

How do we love?

Get to know the source.

Read God's love letter to us in His word.

Talk to him through prayer.

Accept his love for you 

and feel it overflow in your heart so it spills over into 

how you love those around you.

If you haven't noticed, the world is filled with evil.

People are hurting.

People are shouting.

People are angry.

I actually read today on social media that someone was demanding others to stop saying to hurting people that they are in their "thoughts and prayers."

Because it didn't "do anything."

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

James 5:16b

Please join me in praying for all those involved in the school shooting in Ft. Lauderdale AND for those who want us NOT to pray. 

Not to be spiteful

but to be loving.

Whether you love God or not, 

He is already, 

right now, 

loving YOU.

In fact, He loves you so much that he's engraved your name on the palms of his hands. (Isaiah 49:16)

And he delights over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

And he loved this crazy world with you in it so much that he gave his only son to die for us so we can have eternal life. (John 3:16)

That's forever.

That's love.

SOURCE