“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:14
Love is a word that is used so many times in so many different contexts. For some of you, it describes your love for your favorite ice cream, cake, or some other food item. For others of you, it describes your feelings for your favorite sports team, car, house, or some other inanimate object. Then it also can describe how you feel about another person, but even then it can be used so loosely that it loses its true meaning. You even use love to describe how you feel about God, when you tell Him you love Him.
Love is an action word and God does not just tell you He loves you, but He shows you each day just how much He really loves you. Not only does He show you that He loves you, but He requires that if you love Him, then you ought to love others.
The Scripture reminds you: “All the law is fulfilled in one word; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
I encourage you ̶ this Valentine’s Day to truly show the love of God, by loving your neighbor as you love yourself. Daily the Lord shows you how much He loves and cares about you, and each day He wants you to show that love to someone He places in your path. You exhibit the love of God when you can love those who may not love you, and show love to those who may not love you in return.
When you show love to your neighbor you are fulfilling the law that God has given to you, and when you fulfill that law you are showing Him how much you love and care about Him. Do not just love out of a legal sense of pleasing God, but love with a genuine heart the same way that God loves you. God does not love you because you are perfect, or because He has to, He loves you because He wants to.
On this Valentine’s Day love on purpose the same way that God loves you on purpose and with a purpose. Each day the Lord shows me just how much He loves and cares about me, and I will show that love to those He places in my path. Since I am determined to fulfill the law of the Lord with all of my heart, and love my neighbor as I love myself I have no doubt, “It’s My Year to Get My Thing from My God!”
Be Inspired,
Rev. Dr. Stephen W. Pogue, Pastor
Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church
Mount Vernon, NY
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