Happy Valentine's Day

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

Each year we celebrate a holiday called Valentine’s Day, a day on which we send notes to our closed loved ones telling them we love them. But just because people use the word "love" doesn’t mean they really love one another.

John tells us that true Christian love is more than words alone. True Christian love is all about actions, the things we do for one another. We can say we love, but if we do not help people in need, we are not really loving them.

Jesus gave us the best example when He laid down his life for us. The cross is the greatest demonstration of love. God didn’t just say he loved us; he did something about it when he gave his only Son for us.

Christians who are changed by the power of the Holy Spirit will follow Jesus’ example of love. Paul says we can be sure God abides (lives) in us when we find ourselves loving the people around us in ways we didn’t before we trusted the Lord.

How can you better love people in a way that shows, without a doubt, you are  follower of Christ?

Adapted from Marty Machowski's Old Story New: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God.