For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“I love, love, love your shoes,” one girl squealed to another in the mall. I smiled and walked on. Then my ears picked up a guy talking on a cell phone.
“Sure I can go. Man, I love his music, don’t you?”
Next, I glanced at a store window to a jewelry store. Glittery hearts surrounded black boxes of diamond earrings, ruby rings and pearl necklaces. Above it all, a sign read, “The gift that loves back.”
Love – it’s probably the most misused word in the English language. Or at least the most casually used.
Compare it to the most memorized verse in the Bible - John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” How does that usage of love compared to the other examples? They pale in comparison, don’t they? So often we use this four-letter word flippantly. Do we really know what it means?
What is the true definition of love? Read I John 3:16 – “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
Now, that’s love.
Would you give up your life for a pair of shoes, a diamond, or tickets to a concert? I hope your answer, like mine, is “Well, no.” Perhaps we should keep the word “love” hidden away in the confines of our heart and treat it as the most precious word in the world reserved for the most valued things in our lives. Because, after all, it is the most priceless gift our God has given us.
Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me for the times I so casually use the word love, the priceless word that describes the reason your Son hung on the cross. Let me cherish this word and use it only for the precious things you have blessed me with in my life. Amen.
Take Action:
Watch how often you use the word LOVE this week and how you use it. Really think about what you are saying. Could you use another verb instead? List some alternatives in the comments.
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