Love is in the air. Yes, Valentine’s Day was yesterday, but the feelings of love should linger on.

You may have heard me say that I have a rather simple philosophy of life. Here it is:

Love God. Love people.

I base that on Jesus’ words when asked what the most important commandment was. Remember?

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 NLT

There is also a third “love” that I live by. I love life! God has richly blessed me with a wonderful wife (over 53 years of that blessing…and counting), a wonderful family of kids, grandkids, extended family, and many great friends from all walks and lands. And our ministry takes me to countries all over the world to be with people I love…to help them share the love of Christ in effective ways, so that others will come to know of God’s love for them. Love.

That’s not to say that everything in my life has always been, as we say, “peaches and cream.” There have been hardships, struggles, health issues, financial needs, at times broken relationships, misunderstandings…the list could go on and on. But all that is overridden by the love and blessings that God has poured out on me.

No…that is not exactly right. The blessings sometimes have been enhanced by the struggles of life. Have you ever experienced a terrible storm in the night? Lightning. Thunder. Pouring rain. You think it will never end. Then comes the morning.

As the sun breaks through the clouds, there is a sense of exhilaration that would not be there were it not for the storms you have just come through. In fact, you might have missed the beauty of the sunrise if the storms had not raged.

Andrew Murray, a South African pastor in the late 1800s, wrote about the value of difficulties.

“Have you ever noticed what part difficulties play in our natural lives? They call out man’s powers as nothing else can, strengthening and ennobling character. …it is in the mastering of difficulties that our highest attainments come.”

At a critical time in the apostle Peter’s life, after he had denied even knowing Jesus, the Lord tenderly asked Peter, “Do you love me?”

Paul the Apostle would tell the Corinthians and the Philippians of his love for them. And then he followed up that declaration with this admonition.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

Philippians 1:9 NLT

Love.

It isn’t just for Valentine’s Day. It’s not just about greeting cards, candy, and flowers…though those things can be important. It is about relating to God and those He has placed around you and me in the same way our Lord relates to us…through His love.

By the way…I hope you don’t mind me saying this. Because of the Lord’s sacrificial love for me, I can proclaim this from my heart.

I love you!