Love Revealed

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Many of us try to get love from people by doing “the right thing”. We assume doing what someone wants produces a love reaction. Trying hard to earn someone’s love can drive goals, personal development, and even give a sense of accomplishment. What it cannot do is guarantee authentic love.
The Beatles were right when they sang “Can’t Buy Me Love”. You can’t buy love with money or actions. Even perfection does not guarantee someone’s love for you. The truth about love is that it does its great work without dependence upon the recipient.
Many of us want to find our worth in what we do, contribute, or produce. We believe our value is connected to the personality we bring to relationships or the artfulness we bring to conversation.
Love never allows itself to be manipulated this way. It simply declares value. Human love, though imperfect, incomplete and fleeting, points to the greatest love, God’s love.  
Have you tried to get God’s love by doing the right things?

You can’t do anything to make God love you more than he already does. God’s love is perfect in its quality, quantity and duration. This greatest love declares us eternally valuable. This passage sums up the perfection of God’s love beautifully, showing that God commits to love before we even think to know or please him. While we were defying him, he was dying on the cross for us.

God,
Thank you for true love that came when we were not even looking for it. Guide us by your Spirit to love others with that same type of sacrificial love. May others see in our life together a different kind of love that is for them as well. We praise you Jesus for showing the extent of your love through the sacrifice of your life. Amen