“You see, true love germinates in the soil of sacrifice, sprouts in the garden of surrender and matures in a matrimony of servanthood.  Love isn’t love until it has cost you something to give it away” Josh Hopwood).

I see a lot of so-called love paraded around on social media, but in reality it’s just lust masquerading as love. Lust only wants to take and consume, while love longs to give and bless.

If you want the ultimate definition of love, look at Jesus. Specifically look at Philippians 2:5-11. That is sacrificial love at its absolute best. In fact, we only love at all because He first loved us and completely gave of Himself for us.

The best way to show love is not in gratifying your own desires. Love shows up best in serving others, especially those who have no way of repaying and might not even be able to show appreciation for your efforts. But love gives anyway.

The Bible says that God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust. He provides for those who will turn around and slander His name and even go so far as to deny His reality. That’s what love looks like.

Lord, help us to love others as You have loved us. Help us to love ourselves the way You love us. Most of all, help us to remember that the only things we can take with us when we die are what we’ve given away. Amen.