Clay in the Hands

Today is the day in America that we celebrate love. Most often this is the sappy kind of love that we find on cards and little candy hearts. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, for those who know me, you know I am somewhat of a sappy kind of guy.

But love is so much more than sentimental gestures or sappy platitudes. The love that we find displayed in the Bible gives us a much more accurate picture of what real love looks like. Jesus was asked to give his thoughts on which of all the commandments is the most important. He immediately pointed his audience to the greatest of all commands, the command to love God with all that we have – body, soul, mind and spirit. And then he added that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. You can find this encounter in Mark 12:28-34.

Jesus reminds us that our greatest love should be for God and that love should spill over into the love we have for one another. Then in John 15 Jesus says this:

¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Jesus was giving his followers a bit of foreshadowing of what was about to happen. In a very short time, Jesus would go to the cross and literally lay down his life for his friends (and all humanity). So he gives his followers this practical example of what love looks like in real life.

As I reflect on what real love looks today, I am reminded that love is selfless and humble. It is putting the needs of others before ourselves. I pray that you will not be put in a position to literally lay down your life for someone else today, but what would it look like if you put your needs and desires aside and focused on the needs of those in front of you. That is how we show love – and I believe when we show love to those around us, we are showing love to God as well.

Be a blessing to someone today!