Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
February is a month with much attention focused on, Love!
Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary has this entry for love, noun. 1. A feeling of strong personal attachment induced by sympathetic understanding, or by ties of kinship; ardent affection. 2. The benevolence attributed to God as being like a father’s affection for his children; also, men’s adoration of God. 3. Strong liking; fondness; good will; as love of learning; love of country. 4. Tender and passionate affection for one of the opposite sex. 5. The object of affection; sweetheart. 6. Cupid, or Eros, as god of love; sometimes, Venus. 7. A synonym for God. 8. Tennis, Nothing; no points scored; used in counting the score.
February is Black History month; we have opportunities to read insightful and informative books, watch programs, explore music, all offering to enrich conversation and understanding, while inviting us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
If you “love” football, new commercials, and half-time shows, you will want to watch Super Bowl LVII (57) the 53rd modern-era National Football League championship. The game is scheduled to be played on February 12, 2023, President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday!
President George Washington’s birthday is February 22nd; or take the “easy” way and observe President’s Day on February 20th.
If you “love” someone special you will probably want to remember Feb. 14th, Valentine’s Day!
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John 1:9-14)
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. (John 3:16-21)
If we know Jesus and follow him as Savior and Lord, it is because what Jesus said is done. 1) Jesus laid down his life to rescue and redeem us from sin and death; offering salvation, new and eternal life. 2) Followers of Jesus have shared his love and witnessed in many and varied ways, representing the opportunity to say “yes” to a life changing relationship with Jesus. 3) Prayer for the lost: followers of Jesus have been praying the price of making Jesus’ love known since Jesus commissioned us to “make disciples.” 4) Praise and Worship: followers of Jesus devote themselves to “the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) being in close fellowship with Jesus Christ, one another, and empowered by God’s Holy Spirit for ministry.
5) Proclamation: followers of Jesus laying down their lives for others, “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Loving and inviting others to know Jesus, the healing, cleansing flood of his mercy and love which save and transform anyone who believes!
Jesus’ Church loves to offer Jesus to others. “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.” William Temple (1881-1944)
Each day, help others know Jesus! “Celebrations of Love” in February are opportunities to share Jesus love! Pray, Praise, and Peg away! Teach everyone God first loved us that we might love him and one another.
God loves you, and we love you!
Paul and Nancy Wier