February is the month of love.
Some shower those they love with gifts, flowers, chocolates (my favorite), and other items to express their feelings of adoration. But how do we love the unlovable; those that have hurt us, a bully, the nasty neighbor, or an angry aunt? Furthermore, how do we teach our children how to love those who have hurt them? Loving isn’t just an emotion, it’s an action. It takes energy and intentionality. How can we learn to love and teach our children to love those in our sphere whom we’re not fond of?
Love like Jesus
Agape love that Christ displayed is not a feeling. It’s a motivation for action that we are free to choose or reject. Agape love is sacrificial, selfless, and unconditional. This form of love is an intentional action. This kind of love doesn’t come from ourselves, it comes from the indwelling of Christ in us. When we depend upon our own strength to love fully, we sometimes fail miserably. The same is true with our children. We, like them, innately think of ourselves first. But God calls us to a higher and deeper love. It’s not easy, but this love bears much fruit.
Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Pray like Jesus
When Jesus was being scorned, betrayed, and mocked, He prayed, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34) We too have the same opportunity to pray for those who persecute us and our children. Christ wants us to do this because He KNOWS that we are blessed when we do. You see when we pray for those who we don’t want to, God changes our hearts for them. Unforgiveness affects us emotionally and physically. God knows that and doesn’t want us to be shackled with it. I’ve learned this the hard way. When we pray blessings upon those who have hurt us or our children, God changes us. He heals our hearts. I know this isn’t easy but it’s life-changing for our own good and the good of our children.
Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
Live like Jesus
Our children are always watching us and listening to us. How can we live our faith out loud? In the world’s ‘me first’ mentality, it can be hard to display a Christ-like life. Before the bustle of the day begins, spend some time in prayer and Bible reading. It doesn’t have to be lengthy but doing this at the beginning of the day focuses our hearts and minds on God and impacts the way we live and love throughout the day.
Mark 10:31 “But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”
John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In this life as followers of Jesus, we’re called to be different, separate from the world. The world will take notice when we truly love those in our sphere. We can’t do it on our own. But through God’s power and presence in us, we can show the world the true agape love of Jesus.
Please enjoy this Valentine’s Day Bible craft for your family:
Memory Verse: John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (ESV).
Supplies
- Markers/pens
- Scissors
- Sheets of paper (1-2 per person)
- Small jars/clear containers (1 per person)
Setup
- Gather items and have them ready to use.
- An adult can draw seven hearts on each sheet of paper. Make one sheet per person.
- Optional: If children are older, allow them to draw hearts on their sheets of paper.
Say
- Our memory verse, John 13:34-35, tells us that God wants us to love others in the same way He loves us. That’s how other people will know that we are His disciples.
- God wants us to love everyone. A great way to start practicing loving others is to love the people you are closest to first.
- I want you to think of seven people who you spend the most time with. We are going to start practicing showing God’s love to them this week.
- Each of us will fill up a jar/container with hearts with those seven people’s names written on each heart.
- We will pull out one heart each day this week and come up with ways to show that person God’s love all day.
Steps
- Give everyone a piece of paper and have markers/pens available to write with.
- Write the name of a person in your life in each heart. Make sure you write a name in all seven hearts, and they must be different people.
- Once you have your hearts filled out, cut the hearts out and place them in your jar/container. Optional: help younger kids cut their hearts out.
- Every day this week, pull one heart out of your jar and come up with ways to show that person God’s love.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
