Valentine’s Day is approaching, so there is a lot of talk of love these days. That’s fine but so often we forget the most important love of all. So I enjoyed Bob Goff’s tweet the other day “Jesus didn’t tell us to become religious. He told us to be like Him, and He was love.” What a relief we don’t need to be religious. Instead, we are told to be like God, and he is love. So we need to be like love. And that is the challenging part. How hard it is for humans to be and live like love. Yet, God has prepared even that for us.

God is love. If you live in love, you live by the help of God and God lives in you. (1 John 4:16, NLV)¨

We are to live in God who is love. And then we live by the help of God and not by our own effort. The truth is: we can’t but God can. And he gives us his power to love ourselves, others, and him. To live like love.

I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. (Gal. 5:4-6, MSG)

To be and live like love

So if we want to be like God, we truly need to be like love. Even if it’s empowered by God’s grace, we need to be doers of the Word. Faith needs to be expressed in love. Hence we need to think of ways how we can spread God’s love, be God’s presence in this world. To be and live like love.

In order to be like love, we need to set aside some things that do not align with love. These are different things for each of us. So whatever makes you less loving, leave that baggage at the foot of the cross of Christ. And receive grace upon grace to fill that need that made you act less than loving.

Our God is love. And he loves us beyond measure. We can rely on the love God has for us. This makes, at least me, bold. How about you? I am God’s beloved. You are God’s beloved. It is the greatest honor and blessing of all times.

Gracious God,
We thank you and praise you.
You are always more than we need, always more than we can imagine.
Your love for us has been certain from the beginning of time.
We don’t deserve your love yet you give it freely.
Fill us with your love and grace to overflowing.
Then make us bearers of your love and truth.
Bless us to bless others.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

P.S.

Are you ready to say goodbye to religiousness and self-sufficiency? And eager to say hello to joy, peace, truth, and love? This is your lucky day, God is waiting for you. God doesn’t want anything more than welcome you home to him. Don’t hesitate, run to him. Let him care for you, fill you with His grace and peace. Then, gently, he will send you out to the world to be and live love. When you live and move in God’s love, you are safe and secure. Be abundantly blessed, my friend!