Sixth Street Baptist, Alexander City
February is the month to celebrate love. It’s a time when retailers are once again luring shoppers with special sales — especially advertising diamonds and jewelry. It’s a time when men are running around at the last minute to find that special gift for that special lady in their life. It’s a time when children give valentines to their friends. It’s a month set aside to demonstrate and express acts of love to others.
During this month, I’m reminded of one of Charles Schulz’s amusing “Peanuts” strips. Linus announces to his cranky sister, Lucy, that he’s going to be a doctor. “You, a doctor?” she asks. “How can you be a doctor? You don’t love mankind.” Linus replies, “I do too love mankind. It’s people I can’t stand!” Do you ever find yourself identifying with Linus? Far too often we talk about loving people yet do we really? Do we really love those who are outside our family and friends?
Before we answer, we must consider what real love is. The world’s definition of love is basically “If you love me, then you will do this or that.” But real love is selfless, not selfish. Selfless love is doing something, expecting nothing. Yet too often in our day, we witness more selfish acts than selfless acts — and we are all guilty of being selfish. That is, except for one. God is the only One who loves people — all mankind — selflessly. The Bible tells us that, “God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s love is real and it is available to all people — all who believe in Jesus for salvation. You see, by His very actions, God taught us love is more easily demonstrated than defined.
Years ago, Coke’s slogan was “It’s the Real Thing!” Borrowing from that slogan, is your love the real thing? In order to answer affirmatively, you must have experienced the love of God — His selfless love — personally. Only those who have experienced God’s love can love others with the “real thing.” So, during this month of love, have you come to know personally the One who loves you more than anyone else could ever love you? Have you experienced God’s love?
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