“Let love be our highest goal.”

1 Corinthians 14:1

Valentine’s Day has always been my favorite holiday! Not because of the candy, the flowers, the pretty cards, or the air of romance. No. It’s my favorite because it’s all about love! And love is a joyful thing!

But love can be painful too. As I spent many years celebrating Valentine’s Day alone without the presents or the presence of a sweetheart, I began to question my ability to love, and what love was really about. The longer I searched for answers, the more I shifted from celebrating a love that was focused on me, to celebrating a love that was focused on the One who first loved me! I discovered a love that extends far beyond a significant other and way beyond a specific day. A love that is “as high as the heavens are above the earth… and as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:11-12).

It is still difficult to define love. But I am assured that God is our true source of love, and when “we love, because He first loved us”, (1 John 4:19), we are empowered and enabled to love others just as He loves us. Even in seemingly impossible situations, if we blend our hearts with God’s, love is an obtainable ambition.

Love is not self-serving. In fact, it’s just the opposite. True love is serving others. Love is a verb which indicates action or relation between two or more people, and in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul snuggles the characteristics of love in between two chapters of action, reminding us as he opens chapter 14 to “let love be our highest goal”.  

Though love can be challenging, we know that “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), so certainly, we too, can demonstrate our love for others whether friend or family or foe.

Love is modeled perfectly for us by Jesus in many ways. And though we are not perfect by any means, we can still express love by following his example. Three types of love stand out to me when I look at the life of Jesus.

The first is sacrificial love. A love that considers others before our selves. A love that requires humility and sacrifice. A love that might make us a bit uncomfortable. Or in the words of Deitrich Bonhoeffer, “giving up your right to be right”. Jesus certainly gave up his right to be right as he came to earth from his rightful place in heaven and suffered on the cross so we can be saved. He loved us enough to look not to his own interest, but to the interest of others (Philippians 2 paraphrase).

The second is unconditional love. A love that does not expect anything in return. A love that does not bear grudges. A love without benefit to ourselves. God loves us all and shows mercy and kindness to everyone, regardless of whether they love Him back or not. “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

The last, but not least, is practical love. A love that is compassionate and generous. A love that is hospitable, meeting the needs that others cannot meet for themselves. A love that does not turn a blind eye because of judgement or greed. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17), and God is not a selfish God. Jesus was constantly meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. And I believe that God gives to us so we can give back. And He loves so we can love back.

God’s heart is for all people to know Him. Not just to know about Him, but to love Him and know the great joy that is found in His presents and His Presence! And even though He can reach everyone on his own, He chooses to work through us. Let love be your highest goal. Not only today, but every day of the year.

12 Words

Love is an obtainable ambition when we blend our hearts with God.

Dear God, thank you for loving me unconditionally! Bring me the desire to love others as you have loved me and the insight to know how. God, help my life to be a life that is all about love – for you and for others. Amen.

Scripture Reflection:
I Corinthians 13-14:1
Philippians 2:1-8
Romans 12:6-21