"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13 (KJV)Love is kind, patient, and keeps no record of wrongs. We know the words, but living them is harder than reading them. Love may be the most used and abused word in any language, and our human love is often conditional and insincere. Jesus is the author of genuine love: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). We can only remain in that kind of love by remaining in Him (John 15:9-10). Apart from Him, love turns sensual and self-seeking, as we see in how a day meant for love has become secularized. Real love waits, protects, and honors, and it prepares for a life together before God.
Love is a verb, and nobody is born with it by default. Someone once prayed for a stronger will to love, and God answered by sending difficult people into his life. If you can love them without complaint, you have passed the test. True love drains our resources and asks for sacrifice without expecting a reward. Christ is our standard. He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and humbled Himself to death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8). Consider the moon. Sunlight pours onto it, yet its sky stays dark because nothing there scatters the light. Light and love are seen only when they are reflected. As Christ's ambassadors, reflect God's love so the world knows you are His.
Lord, teach me to love as You love, in deed and not only in word. When You bring difficult people into my life, help me to love them without complaint. Let me reflect Your love so clearly that the world knows I am Yours. Amen.