Do we choose to love God? In 1 John 4:10, the Word says, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (KJV) No, we come to love God because he first loved us, and showed that love through his actions toward us. Look at Titus 3:3-4. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared.” (KJV) The Bible says that even though we were not "nice" people, the kindness and love of God appeared. Good things happened to us even while we were unsaved, but we did not realize it or we refused to admit that God was being good to us. I know when great things happened for me when I was unsaved, I would say, "I got lucky”, or “I got over on that one.” Luke 6:35 says, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” (KJV) 1 John 4:8 tells us that “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (KJV) LOVE is one of God's Names. It is impossible for God to hate us. He is LOVE and has love for us. The Bible says God has put His love in our hearts (Rom. 5:5). His love is in us, and we should show that love forth for mankind.
Today is Valentine's Day. The "day of love", love toward your sweetheart, your spouse, love toward others. Did you go out and buy that "special card" and candy and flowers? I trust that you did some or all of those. You might say, "Man, we have been married a whole lot of years. I do not do that anymore. She knows I love her." Did we not say that LOVE is one of God's Names? Have you ever heard that God is not governed by time or distance? Virdeen and I have been married more than twenty years. We both still tell each other that we love each other, and we both still buy each other gifts and do special things for each other. Love cannot help but love. Love cannot help but give. Love cannot help but do and show. Love is an action just as much as it is a feeling.
Valentine's Day is a great day to show love toward others. All the stuff is in the stores. The chocolate, the flowers, the stuffed teddy bears with a heart hanging around the neck, the card with just the right words are all available in abundance. And all that is great. I am not trying to bust anyone's bubble, but I have to tell you that you do not have to wait for this one day of the year to do any or all of those things. You can buy your sweetheart flowers on a day that is not Valentine's or birthday, or "special". You will make that day a special day. Now, just decide to do it. As you learn to do that for that special someone you will find yourself doing little things for others, friends and co-workers. Try it. I dare you. At work the next day that you go down to the snack bar to grab a sandwich and a drink, buy double and give one away when you get back to your work area. You have the ability to make any day a "special" day for someone. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (KJV) If all you can give to someone is a smile, then smile to them and rejoice. A smile will give you the fastest return on your investment. Let's DO IT!
