Tht Greatest Of These

One of the most important days of this month of February, and one of the nicest days of the entire year is Valentine’s Day. That is a day when we express our love and appreciation for special people in our life. We should do this regularly anyway, but it’s nice to have a special day set aside to say or write sweet things to one another.

The Bible has a lot to say about love. We are able to love because God is love and He created us in His image. Therefore, we have the capacity to love God and each other. In fact, love is the greatest of all virtues as stated in 1 Cor. 13:13, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Consider with me some great things about love.

1) The Greatest Commandment according to Jesus is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself". Mt. 22:37-39. Without a doubt, the greatest thing you and I can do is to love God and others.

2) The Greatest Contribution ever made in this universe is recorded in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." Who in their right mind would refuse this greatest of all gifts? Have you received Jesus Christ into your heart and life by faith in His death, burial and resurrection for you?

3) The Greatest Characteristic that should be manifested in the lives of Christ’s followers is love. Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another". John 13:35. How the world needs to see this demonstrated by all genuine believers. Love is the badge of true Christianity in a fallen world.

4) The Greatest Companion that gives us the ability to love as we should is the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5 says... "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Praise God for this divine companion who enables us to love like God does!

5) The Greatest Calamity is the absence of love which is prophesied by Scripture in the last days before Jesus returns. 2 Tim. 3:1-4 tells us, ... "in the last days perilous times will come...men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God". They will also be... "unloving, unforgiving...brutal". It’s very disturbing to see the brutality of those who have rejected the love of God and only seek to love and gratify themselves.

6) The Greatest Challenge is recorded in the last book of the Bible to a church in Ephesus. Jesus rebuked them saying, "You have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent." Rev. 2:4-5.

How’s your "love life"? How are you doing at loving God first and foremost, then loving others as yourself? The good news for those who have failed is this - you can still get back on track! Just do what Jesus said: Remember from where you have fallen, Repent of your sin, and Return to the proper priorities and practice. Get back to the greatest thing, which is to love God, then others.

Start with getting right with God. Go ahead, find a quiet place and pour out your heart to Him. Honestly confront and confess your sins to Him and receive His forgiveness and cleansing. Then get right with others. Apologize for offenses. Seek full restoration and sweet friendship and fellowship again. Life is too short and the stakes are too high to miss out on "the greatest of these"...which is LOVE.

"The love of God, how rich and pure,
how measureless and strong;
It shall forever more endure,
the saints and angels song!"