Hello ,

Love. It’s a word we use often, yet the depth and meaning of it can sometimes feel elusive. In a world where love is sometimes defined by fleeting emotions or self-interest, the Bible reveals a love that is unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal. It’s a love that doesn’t merely speak words but demonstrates its power through action.

When we think of love, our ultimate example is God Himself. In 1 John 4:9-10, it says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

God’s love for us is not based on our worth or actions. It's freely given, and it’s perfect. His love is demonstrated most fully in the person of Jesus Christ, who lived among us and, ultimately, gave His life for us. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross is the most profound expression of love the world has ever known. He loved us even when we were unlovable, even when we rejected Him. He loved us to the point of laying down His life.

There’s a powerful story about a missionary named Jim Elliot, who went to Ecuador to share the Gospel with an indigenous tribe, the Waodani people. Despite the tribe’s violent reputation, Jim and his team were determined to show God’s love. After months of attempts to communicate and build trust, Jim and his fellow missionaries were killed by members of the tribe. What might seem like a tragic end to their story actually became the beginning of a powerful movement of faith.

Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, and other members of the missionary community did not retaliate with anger. Instead, they chose to forgive and, in time, returned to the very tribe that killed Jim. They shared the message of Christ’s love, and through that, many in the tribe came to faith in Christ. The love Jim and Elisabeth demonstrated—a love that forgave and reached out even after death—was a powerful reflection of Christ’s love for us.

God's love calls us to something radical. It invites us to love not just those who love us, but even those who hurt or misunderstand us. Jesus, in His teaching, commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Why? Because love is not about feeling or fairness; it’s about reflecting the heart of God.

When we struggle to love others, we must look to the perfect example of God’s love for us. His love never fails, never gives up, and never runs out (1 Corinthians 13:8). It's not based on our actions but on His grace. Just as God loved us first, we are called to love others with that same kind of love.

I don't know about you, but I need daily help from a Heavenly source outside my self to loves other like that. 

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word