Valentine Challenge 2008

Have you ever thought about the way we throw around the word “love”?

“Sir, would you care for more chips and salsa?” “Sure, I would LOVE some.”

“I just loved that new movie.”

“I love that color on you.”

“Honey, I love you.”

Well today is the day that we celebrate love in its most romantic sense of the word. As we do, let me challenge you to take a moment and be thankful for the ultimate display of love:

But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! – Romans 5:8

Before we became lovely, before we cleaned up or act, before we pulled ourselves together, God showed us how much He loved us by sending His Son Jesus to die in our place. I didn’t deserve it, but I LOVE it.

I can only love my wife, daughter, family, and friends because God has shown me what true love is. God loves me UNCONDITIONALLY.

And there in is the challenge for me this Valentine’s Day. I am praying that God will fill my heart with love for some unlovable people. We all have them. You see, it is easy to love the people who love me, but what about those who don’t. What about those who speak evil of me? Or those who spite me? Or mean me harm?

We can love the way God loves when we remember that love is more than a feeling. Love is a commitment to act a certain way toward another in spite of my feelings about Him. Love means I am willing to do what Christ did – I am willing to lay myself aside for the good of someone else. Even if that someone else doesn’t deserve it.

So here is my Valentine Challenge to you (and to me) for 2008:

• (1) think of 2 people you find it hard to love
• (2) ask God to show you tangible ways to act lovingly toward them
• (3) think of 1 specific random act of kindness to do for each of them this month
• (4) commit to praying daily for both people for the rest of the month of February

I hope you enjoy the freedom of loving someone who does not love you first. You may just turn an enemy into a friend. It worked for Jesus - when He took the initiative to love me, He converted me from an enemy to a friend. And I am eternally grateful.