Leading The Way - Devotional for February 12
February 12, 2025
Know the Truth About Love
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
Our culture is full of false interpretations of love. Day by day, true love is being buried under an avalanche of selfishness and confusion.
Many people view love as a warm affection or desire. There are times when love can produce warm affection and desire, but these can also be selfish feelings. When the feelings fade, those who view love this way move on to the next warm embrace. In contrast, Biblical love is selfless. True love is more about giving than receiving. True love is about sacrifice. True love casts aside pride and self-conceit.
In John 13:34-35, Jesus commands us to love one another: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” What is the distinguishing mark that sets us apart? It is our love for one another. Jesus is saying that self-sacrificing love will be the supreme trademark of His disciples.
In Romans 5:5, Paul writes, “. . . God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” You cannot manufacture self-giving love. You cannot produce it no matter how hard you might try. You can only share that which God has already poured into your heart.
Some try to express the depth of their love by saying, “Well, I would die for you.” You know what’s harder than dying for someone? Dying to self. It is much harder to live for Jesus than to die. It is much harder to die to your ideas, to your opinions, and to your way.
Consider where you stand in your love for Christ and others. You may have tried to practice sacrificial love on your own and failed. However, today you can submit yourself to the Lord and invite Him to love others through you. Ask Him daily and watch as He pours true love for others into your heart.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving Your life in the ultimate act of love for me. Help me to abide in Your love, that I may love You in return and pour Your love out to others. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Healthy Living in a Sick World, Part 18: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW
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