Day 36--God is Love.

"In February, I got to go to the wedding of my big sister, Emily, and see her begin a new life with her husband, and now my new brother-in-law, Robert. Just by looking at them, and the family and friends they had with them, you could tell that God was a very central part of this event. I've always known that having Christianity and God are very important parts in a marriage, but just being able to see it first hand, it was just so inspiring to see two people join together, before God, and start a new life together with Him at the center of it."  --Noah S.

There’s a lot of ways to feel love for someone.  You love your family.  You love your friends.  You love your boyfriend or girlfriend.  You love Captain America.

 

Love is a good thing--God commands us to it—though it’s not always an easy thing.  Especially when people irritates you.  But love--God’s kind of love--calls for action more than it calls for emotion.  He makes it possible to love even when you think you don’t feel it. 

 

"…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us."  1 John 4:16-19

God showed His love for us with the ultimate sacrifice of His Son.  He loves us beyond fear and beyond imperfection.  His love for us is not conditional.  Our love for others has to be the same way.  We have to stop thinking of love as a romantic or affectionate way to feel about someone, and start thinking about love as a way to live for the whole world.    

Read 1 Corinthians 13.  Pay attention to how Paul describes the act of loving.  He’s not just talking about the love you might feel for a significant other here.  He’s talking about how to BE loving to others in Jesus’ name.  Pray about how you can put Paul’s words to action today.