Beloved, let us love
one another, - 1 John 4:7-11 (NKJV)
It was the second week of February and
every where one went in Pupperville there were heart shaped signs
advertising Valentines Day. For some people Valentines is a wonderful
time of the year but for others it’s a day to be gotten rid of. So
was the case of one Barney Lee.
Knowing how good Harold was at getting
out of things, Barney was heading to his house to see if Harold would
help him with his Valentine problem when he met up with Harold’s
Grandpa. “Maybe Robert, can help me.” Barney thought to himself,
“He’s been around along time and Harold had to learn all his
tricks from somebody”
“Mr. Gray!” Barney called out,
“I’ve got a B I G problem and I was wondering if you could help
me.” “I might be able to help you.” Robert said as he walked
over to him, “What do you need?” “I need to get rid of
tomorrow.” Barney said
“I don’t think that is possible.”
Robert told him. “I didn’t think so.” Barney said, “I don’t
think I’m going to make it through tomorrow.” “Do you have some
big test tomorrow that you didn’t study for?” Robert asked him
trying to find out why he wanted to get rid of tomorrow.
“Well........ Yes, but that’s not the reason,” Barney told him,
“Tomorrow is Valentines Day.”
“And there’s something wrong with
that?” Robert asked. “Yeah.” Barney replied, “Girls! And to
make it worse our teacher at school is making us give mushy
Valentine’s cards to them.” “Mushy!?” Robert questioned, “Are
you sure they’re mushy?” “Well, maybe they’re not mushy”
Barney told him “But, but I don’t like girls much less love
them.”
“It can’t be that bad, can it”
Robert told him. “Oh yeah!” Barney exclaimed “Last year one of
the girls tried to kiss me. I don’t want to be anybody’s
Valentine and I don’t want anyone to be my Valentine. I don’t
want to love anybody and I don’t want anybody to love me.”
You know,” Robert said as he sat
down on a bench, “love doesn’t have to be mushy.” “It
doesn’t?” Barney asked somewhat confused. “I thought all love
was mushy.” “I love you” Robert told him. “But you’re an
old grandpa.” “Thanks a lot!” Robert exclaimed “Maybe I don’t
love you.” “I’m just kidding.” Barney quickly replied
“Do you love your mom and dad? Do
you love Harold? Do you love God?” do they love you?” “Alright”
Barney interrupted, “I get your point,.” “Just remember what
the Bible says.” Robert tried to encourage him, “1 John 4:7 says
let us love one another, for love is from God”“I know” Barney
said looking a bit discouraged, “But there’s still girls out
there.”
Depending on who you are, you may have
different ideas as to what Valentines Day is all about. As a kid
Valentines day meant getting cards with candy and gum attached to
them and it also meant giving them to girls, I did not like girls.
That was then, Now I am grown up, girls aren't so bad, I married one
and God gave me four more. The meaning of the day gas changed for me
as well Now it's more of an opportunity to show my family how much I
love them – the girls and the boys.
Speaking of love, have you ever tried
to get out of loving someone? When you turn to God's word we find a
lawyer who tried. His story is found in Luke 10.
And behold, a lawyer stood up to
put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in
the Law? How do you read it?" And he answered, "You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered
correctly; do this, and you will live." But he, desiring to
justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and
departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going
down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed
by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where
he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and
bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his
own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the
next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper,
saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay
you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to
be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said,
"The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You
go, and do likewise." - Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)
I'll talk about what love is some
other time but if you can't wait you can read about it in 1
Corinthians 13. In the mean time I'll let you know that love is not
usually mushy and as you can see in Jesus' story, love was not mushy.
Adding to the command to love your
neighbor, Jesus added a command to also love your enemies - Matthew
5:43-44 - You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and
hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you, (HCSB)
In Romans Paul comments on loving your
neighbor with these words Owe no one anything, except to love each
other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The
commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not
murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other
commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor;
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. - Romans 13:8-10 -
(ESV)
While Paul gives us a great reason to
love, John gives us an even greater reason - 1 John 4:7-11 Beloved,
let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves
is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God,
for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might
live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
(NKJV)
Here's Something To Ponder
- Do you say you love your neighbor or do you love you neighbor?
- Will you use Valentines Day to let people know you love them?
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