“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15:13-14 NIV) “
In 2012, American singer-songwriter, John Mayer, had this to say about love: “Love ain’t a thing, Love is a verb”. What is a verb? A verb is an action word, and John Mayer gets it right, he sings, you gotta show, show, show me, love is a verb!
In his New York Times Bestselling book, “Love Does”, Bob Goff, captures this concept. He writes that “love is never stationary. In the end, love doesn’t keep thinking about it or keep planning for it. Simply put: love does.” That’s what Nebuchadnezzar II did for the homesick love of his life, Queen Amytis in 600 B.C. She missed the lush, mountainous land of Media so Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and it was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Emperor Shah Jahan’s favourite wife died in 1631 after giving birth to their 14th child, so he decided to build in her honour, an immense white mausoleum known today as the Taj Mahal.
Love is not only about grand gestures like what King Nebuchadnezzar and Shah Jahan did, but it is about just being there for the person you love. It is also about noticing the small details like the way your significant other looks at you when they are pleased. Love requires sacrifice, patience, understanding and hard work. And so it is with Gods Love.
God loves you; you are special. He cares about you so much. God shows us that love truly is a verb! He is, in fact, the GLOAT (Greatest Lover of All Time), because He gave His most valuable gift, His Son Jesus. Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving. He gives us the Holy Spirit, salvation, forgiveness, health, strength, family, and so much more. The fact that you are alive and breathing right is a demonstration of God’s love. His love is never-ending, never failing. It is a continual action, and it demands a response.
Jesus, speaking to His disciples, said in John 15:13-14 (NLT) – There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. And verse 12 says: This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. Jesus is extending an invitation to you today because he wants to call you His friend. He wants to get to know and love you on a personal level. He wants you to be obedient to His invitation of love. Will you let God love you?
Prayer: Jesus, I want to be your friend. Thank you for being the greatest lover of all time. Teach me to love you and to love like you! Please help me be obedient to whatever you ask me to do. Amen.
By Carlon Nyack
