Since it’s the month of love, that got me thinking about relationships and what love looks like. When Dean and I were first married we would go to a store and pick out Valentine cards, and just read them to each other (we were young missionaries and had no money). We had a great time and enjoyed being able to say different things with each card. That is a very simple act of love and less pressure than trying to find the perfect card. OY!

We’ve all heard that love is a verb and verbs require action. When we respond out of love the action we take is no longer arbitrary, it becomes intentional and significant.  How we respond matters because every single person is valuable. When we know that each of us is valuable and what we do is significant then…

… We will treat others like we want to be treated.  No one enjoys being made fun of, talked about, ridiculed or rejected.

… We will choose to hear both sides of an argument, knowing the truth is usually in the middle, before we cast judgment.

… We will remember the value of others and we will no longer look to purposely hurt one another. 

Our value is not dependent on how good we are, what we look like, our economic status or how much we do.   Our real value comes from our Heavenly Father. He says:

We are made in His image.  Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image...”   When we are convinced that each of us is a reflection of God, everything changes. What we believe about ourselves; how we talk to and treat each other.

We are loved.  We are loved so much that even though God knew we would turn away from Him, He sent Jesus to die for us (John 3:16). He also promised in Isaiah 54:10 that His “unfailing love for you will not be shaken…”

We are made for a reason. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jesus changed everything. He showed us to respond to haters, deserters, fringe people ~ who we normally would ignore. Jesus’ love never wavered no matter who He was with. He set the standard of how we should love. His code of conduct should be our guide. How we act matters. What we say can bring life or death.

So, I’ll ask this…

What if we believed, accepted how God sees and loves us?

What if we shared that love with others?

What if they believed and accepted His love for themselves?

What if they started sharing God’s love too?

How would that impact our families, communities, nation and world?

How about if we choose to let love dictate our words and actions. Are you in?!?! Let’s start today!

My prayer is that you will fully know God’s relentless love for you!

All my love ~ Jodi xoxo