When I was growing up I remember saying “I Love You” a lot... mostly to my mom and dad or grand parents. I would especially use this phrase when getting off the phone with relatives who lived out of state. However, when I would get off the phone with friends – it was always – “See ya” or “Catch you later!” And you NEVER said, “I love you” to a guy… unless he was your boyfriend. But as I got older I would hear many people say “I love you”… but I don’t think the meaning is the same as it was originally intended.
For some reason, lately, I’ve become very aware every time I say it and every time I hear it. In the past, I would never say, “I love you” to a girlfriend or a guy friend. I would say it often to my parents and siblings… but that was it. The other day I got done chatting with a friend and we made sure to say, “I love you” to one another… and we meant it. I’ve even said it to my guy friends and they’ve said it back… and we meant it. So it got me thinking… when did the meaning of “love” change for me?
Well, what is the definition of love? Love (according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary) means: strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties, i.e.: maternal love for a child. Another meaning: the object of attachment, devotion or admiration. But my favorite meaning: unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.
But who taught me what “love” really means and when did I get comfortable expressing that love. Did my parents teach me… or my siblings… or my friends? Well, I’m sure they influenced me… but truly… only One taught me the true meaning of “love”…
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16 (NIV)
God demonstrated the true meaning of love… Do you get it? Do you get how much God loves you? Even while you were still sinning… Jesus – the only begotten Son of God… sent by God… willingly gave His life so that we may LIVE!
I love my family… I love my friends… and I love God – all because He first loved me.
So I am encouraging you all – my friends and family, whom I love dearly – to come out this Sunday evening (6pm) to the combined worship service at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durham. Momentum 2009 will be a night of meeting with the Creator who LOVES YOU… and giving you the chance to worship Him.
I will be there praising the Heavenly Father… because He loves me and I want to shout it out loud… “By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” ~ Psalm 42:8.
Come, and worship and love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength!
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