“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35

With the arrival of February comes thoughts of love. Which love is at the center of your thoughts?

Is it love of self? Is it a romantic interest in another? Is it thoughts of family? Is it concern for your neighbor? Is it love for Christ?

You might very well respond, “It's February, so it is romantic focused.” But even that could describe two different relationships. It could be a romantic interest that is strictly self motivated by what I get out of the relationship. It could also be a romantic interest motivated by focus on the well being of the other.

I encourage you, even in February, to be centered on the love of Christ. Then all of those other relationships and expressions of love will have better outcomes for all.

The love John uses in the verses above is agape. It is an unconditional love focused on the other, expecting nothing in return; although, the return is usually far greater than imagined.

You might say that it goes against our nature, and you would be right. That is why we need to know Christ to know that kind of love. Think how much better off all of our relationships would be if we were motivated by love of other instead of love of self. It would be a completely different world, a world we might call the Kingdom of God.

So, this February, let us live with the love of Christ in us, even to strangers. You might even be surprised how much better those romantic and family relationships are as a result. And, besides, then all will know that you are a disciple of Christ.

  Your fellow servant in Christ,