True Love

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you.
Matthew 5:44 NIV

Honor your father and mother, and love your
neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 19:19 NIV

Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind.”
Matthew 23:37 NIV

“For God so loved the world that he gave his
One and only Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 NIV


Modern-day love takes on shapes and forms that could never have been foreseen by our Christian forefathers. We casually throw the word around for everything from our pets to our sports heroes, houses, clothing, movie stars, TV shows and much more.

But as we celebrate love on this Valentine’s Day, I hope we will remember and focus on the true meaning. The Bible talks about many kinds of love. We read about brotherly love and the love of a man and a woman, and then as now we find perversion of that love.

But God displayed the greatest love in the history of the world when He sent His Son Jesus into our sin-filled sinful world. Agape love—love in the best interest of the other person and not yourself. Love that gives and forgives! Love that hurts when you hurt, laughs when you laugh and shares in your joy.

Today, amidst the chocolates, roses and celebrations of love, take some time to share the love of Christ with someone. Tell them about His sacrificial and unconditional love.

And don’t forget to remind yourself of the words of Christ. “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21 NIV) That is the perfect prescription for true love.

© Joyce Powell