February 13th, 2025
by Pastor Shawn Everhart
by Pastor Shawn Everhart
As we enter the month of February, a time traditionally set aside to celebrate love, it’s important to reflect on what love truly means for us as Apostolic Pentecostals. In a world that often reduces love to an emotion or a fleeting feeling, the Bible calls us to a higher standard: to show love through action, to serve others, and to reflect Christ’s love in every area of our lives.
1. The Love of Christ is Unconditional
The love that Christ offers us is unlike anything we experience in the world. It’s not based on conditions, feelings, or our performance. Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ loved us before we ever knew Him, before we were ever worthy of His love. This is the love we are called to embody—love that extends beyond personal preferences or circumstances.
2. Loving Others Through Service
Christ didn’t just speak of love; He demonstrated it through His actions. In Matthew 20:28, He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus’ life was filled with acts of compassion—feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and comforting the brokenhearted. Our love for others must go beyond words; it must be shown through our service. Whether it's volunteering at a local shelter, helping a neighbor, or simply offering a kind word to someone in need, these are the practical ways we can reflect God’s love.
3. The Power of Love in Community
In the New Testament, the early church set an example of loving fellowship that we are still called to today. Acts 2:44-45 shares how “all who believed were together and had all things in common...and they distributed to each as anyone had need.” True love is not just about individual acts of kindness but about building a community that reflects Christ’s love. When we love each other as Christ loves us, we create a place of belonging, support, and strength for those around us.
4. Loving with Forgiveness
One of the hardest yet most essential aspects of love is forgiveness. We are called to forgive as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). This isn’t easy, and it’s often a challenge, but when we choose forgiveness, we break the chains of bitterness and allow God’s love to flow freely through us. Loving others means we are willing to let go of past hurts, to forgive, and to restore relationships.
5. Love That Reaches Beyond the Walls of the Church
The love of Christ is not meant to be contained within the walls of our churches. Our love should reach out to those who are far from God. In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” The love we show to our fellow believers is a testimony to the world of God’s grace and mercy. Let us not be a church that only loves within itself, but one that seeks to share God’s love with our neighborhoods, our cities, and our world.
In Conclusion
As we reflect on Christ’s love this February, let us commit ourselves to not just talking about love but showing it in every aspect of our lives. Let us love through service, through forgiveness, through community, and through outreach. As we act in love, we mirror the heart of Christ to the world, and through us, His love can change lives.
Let this month be a reminder that love is more than just a word—it’s something we live out every day, for the glory of God and the good of those around us.
1. The Love of Christ is Unconditional
The love that Christ offers us is unlike anything we experience in the world. It’s not based on conditions, feelings, or our performance. Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ loved us before we ever knew Him, before we were ever worthy of His love. This is the love we are called to embody—love that extends beyond personal preferences or circumstances.
2. Loving Others Through Service
Christ didn’t just speak of love; He demonstrated it through His actions. In Matthew 20:28, He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus’ life was filled with acts of compassion—feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and comforting the brokenhearted. Our love for others must go beyond words; it must be shown through our service. Whether it's volunteering at a local shelter, helping a neighbor, or simply offering a kind word to someone in need, these are the practical ways we can reflect God’s love.
3. The Power of Love in Community
In the New Testament, the early church set an example of loving fellowship that we are still called to today. Acts 2:44-45 shares how “all who believed were together and had all things in common...and they distributed to each as anyone had need.” True love is not just about individual acts of kindness but about building a community that reflects Christ’s love. When we love each other as Christ loves us, we create a place of belonging, support, and strength for those around us.
4. Loving with Forgiveness
One of the hardest yet most essential aspects of love is forgiveness. We are called to forgive as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). This isn’t easy, and it’s often a challenge, but when we choose forgiveness, we break the chains of bitterness and allow God’s love to flow freely through us. Loving others means we are willing to let go of past hurts, to forgive, and to restore relationships.
5. Love That Reaches Beyond the Walls of the Church
The love of Christ is not meant to be contained within the walls of our churches. Our love should reach out to those who are far from God. In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” The love we show to our fellow believers is a testimony to the world of God’s grace and mercy. Let us not be a church that only loves within itself, but one that seeks to share God’s love with our neighborhoods, our cities, and our world.
In Conclusion
As we reflect on Christ’s love this February, let us commit ourselves to not just talking about love but showing it in every aspect of our lives. Let us love through service, through forgiveness, through community, and through outreach. As we act in love, we mirror the heart of Christ to the world, and through us, His love can change lives.
Let this month be a reminder that love is more than just a word—it’s something we live out every day, for the glory of God and the good of those around us.
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