My wife and I were recently in a setting with several long-time friends. We felt love. We felt fortunate. We felt the presence of God as we were in the presence of these friends. As we drove home from the event we talked of the blessing of being loved by so many for so long.

As we celebrate another wedding anniversary, I wonder how many times we have expressed our love for one another through our thirty-six years. We have said it with cards, we have said it with gifts, we have said it with physical presence, and we have said it with words.

Every time I communicate with one of my children, I realize what it means to be loved and to love. A text. An email. A conversation. A photograph. A visit. Each interaction is a reminder of what it means to love and be loved.

When I think of one of my brothers, my sister, my parents, my grandparents, my cousins, my nephews and nieces, and my aunts and uncles, I am convinced all over again of what an amazing heritage of love has been bestowed upon me.

At the end of a sermon, as I see a brother or sister moving toward the front of the assembly hall with tears in their eyes, then I see other brothers and sisters surround them, embrace them, and wrap their arms around as we pray for them, I am grateful for the fellowship of love with which I serve the Lord.

Whether I write it in an article, preach it in a sermon, share it over coffee, discuss it in a class or a small group, I am convinced of the truth that our God is a God of love who has demonstrated His love for all people with the ultimate expression of love: He gave His life for us.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything (1 John 3:16-20 NIV).

Jesus gave His life for us. He loves you. He loves me.

Jesus gave His life for us.
Admit it.

Accept it.

Appreciate it.

Share it.