It’s February!
That’s got most of us thinking about one thing… or maybe two things. When we think about February, we think about Valentine’s Day. And maybe the Super Bowl, for all you fans of football or decadent dips and tasty treats or funny commercials.
Also, as it is a Winter Olympics year, you might be thinking of the upcoming games and skating and skiing and curling. But I digress…
Anyway, I’m thinking about love. Not the usual romantic love that is linked to Valentine’s Day but the acts of showing others that we care. When we put love in action, we become more like Jesus.
In multiple places in the Gospels, Jesus told us that God’s greatest commandment is to love God and love people. And the two go together because we can’t truly love God if we don’t love others. And, I would argue, it’s very hard to genuinely love others without God.
God helps me have a heart that loves others, empowering me to love even in situations where love would be impossible on my own.
Last year, I repeated a blog post from February 2019 where I shared “Love letters from God,” with paraphrased Bible verses to help remind us how much God loves us.
This year, I wanted to encourage myself and my readers to take a deliberate approach to loving others in the next two weeks.
The love that God calls us to share isn’t a mushy feeling that fades with familiarity but an act of will that endures through years and challenges.
Every day from Feb. 1 through 14 I will share a Bible verse about loving others and, hopefully, inspiring thoughts about the many ways we can show love.
My prayer is that you will join me and find that God guides you and empowers you in showing love to others in ways that enrich their lives and yours.
February 1: My verse for today is “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…” – Hebrews 10:24
When I see someone perform a good deed, it makes me want to do good, too. What can I do to encourage others today?
February 2: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35
What are you known for? We often want others to see us for our talents or achievements, but God wants us to be known for loving others. As the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love…”
February 3: Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8
Have you messed up lately? I have. If we keep showing love, we do what we can to restore the relationship.
February 4: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. – Proverbs 17:17
I’ve been reading the book of Job. Job was a man who followed God but lost all he had: his wealth, his children and his health. His friends came to see him and at first, they just sat with him in silence. Then they began to accuse Job of evil and call him to repent because of their belief that bad things happen to those who do evil. Sitting with him in silence was better than their accusations and attempts to “fix” Job’s problems.
Sometimes I don’t know what to say to someone experiencing great hardship. But just coming to them and sitting with them can be powerful. And we can pray.
February 5: You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:43
Jesus calls His followers to love those who hate them. This is hard, y’all. So hard that it is only possible with God’s help. Instead of holding a grudge, I can pray for those who offend me.
February 6: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. – 1 John 4:7-8
Whenever I am unloving to others, it means I’m disconnected from God. Connecting with God helps me love others.
February 7: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
In a message I heard once, the pastor suggested replacing the word “love” with your name. Try it for yourself. This is the way God wants us to love, but it is only possible with His help.
February 8: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. – 1 John 4:18
Much of the fear is about getting hurt if things don’t go in my favor. But God is with me through everything and is working for my good and His glory. He frees me to love even when it’s risky.
February 9: With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:2-3
For all those who follow Jesus, we’re commanded to be at peace with one another. It starts with humility, gentleness, and patience, which means setting aside selfishness. Why are we told to bear with one another in love? Because we can let disagreements over any number of things break the bond of peace. That is not the way of Christ. We’re called to unity of the Spirit.
February 10: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Lord, keep me from looking down on anyone because every person is created in the image of God. Show me how to bless others with your love today.
February 11: Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13
This is part of a 9/11 Memorial to first responders in Hutchinson, Kansas. It reminds me to be thankful for all the first responders and military service members who put themselves in harm’s way for the good of others.
The verse points us to Jesus who died for all of us. Most of us will never have the opportunity to die for another, but on a daily basis I can put someone else’s needs ahead of my own and become more like Him.
February 12: He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8
God calls us not just to extend mercy to others but to love giving mercy to others. And we’re called to act justly with people and walk humbly with God. Our actions should be just, but when we are wronged, we should be quick to extend mercy. Walking humbly with Christ is the key.
February13: Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. – Romans 12:9
Lord, help me truly see those around me and show them Your love. May I see the world as You do, hating evil and holding fast to what is good.
February 14: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. – Luke 10:27
Lord, help me love you more each day, and let that love overflow to all those around me so that when they look at me, they see you. Amen.