(123RF.com)

“Our culture confuses love with emotion – as something we ‘fall’ into or out of. While love certainly includes powerful emotions, we know from the scriptures that love is characterized by a choice to act, even when our emotions are leading the other way.”                       –  David Schmus *

The Voices agree with this statement because true love or Agape love can only come  from God through us. It is that idea of sacrificial love that God taught us when He gave His only begotten Son to die on a cross for our sins. We in turn must show love to family, friends, strangers – even our enemies – whether we want to or not. This is because God lives in us and His love is pure, honest, and true. We must understand that in us is “no good thing” (“There is no one righteous, not even one.” Romans 3:10; “All of our righteous acts are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6).  God’s love has to be given to others in spite of ourselves because that is what God requires, and when we love Him, He gives us the ability to love others.

I Corinthians 13 teaches us about love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” The last line of this well-known chapter is probably quoted the most often: “Now these three remain – faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

On Valentine’s Day, the day that symbolizes love, whether you give flowers, candy, a card, etc. to a spouse, a child, a student, or loved one, remember that any good thing in us comes from God.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Deidre and Sue

* CEAI Outreach Director