Superkids, it’s that time of year when you hear a lot about LOVE.
I wish I could have heard your thoughts as you read the word LOVE.
Let’s see if I can guess.
Maybe you thought about romantic movies. You know, the ones that begin: Girl meets boy, girl hates boy, girl falls in love with boy and everyone lives happily ever after. Or perhaps you thought about the valentines you’ll hand out at school to people you don’t even know. What’s that about, anyway?
I remember when I was your age, love meant you asked someone “out” (we never really went anywhere), then you would break up within a week. Not much to love about that!
Whatever you pictured, whether it was fairy tales, Hallmark movies or that weeklong crush, it can’t compare with what LOVE really is. Thanks to God’s Word, we can know what LOVE really is.
We’ve heard of John 3:16, and how God loved us so much He gave us His precious Son. But have you read 1 John 3:16, which talks about Jesus’ LOVE? Read what it says: “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us” (New Living Translation).
This should clear up any confusion!
Love was demonstrated by Jesus, who showed us how it was done and what it looks like. First Corinthians 13 says LOVE is not selfish. We can forever use this as our measuring stick for recognizing LOVE. Always ask yourself, Is this real LOVE or is this a phony love?
Look at what the rest of 1 John 3:16 says about real LOVE: “So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” That’s beginning to sound like a Superkid mission to me!
Verse 18 says, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” And verse 23 tells us, “And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us” (NLT).
There it is! That’s our Superkid assignment! We are to LOVE like Jesus loves! And you know what? We can do this!
Romans 5:5 (NLT) says, “For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Superkid, you are filled with God’s LOVE! That means you can love with His LOVE! I like the way 1 John 4:11-12 (NLT) puts it: “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
Do you see how important you are to this mission? When you LOVE others, it allows them to see God and His LOVE. But that’s not the greatest part! The most amazing thing about a Superkid obeying the Commander in Chief (Jesus), and loving people with His LOVE, is the last part of that verse. God’s LOVE is brought to FULL EXPRESSION in you!
You can do it, Superkid! Let that LOVE shine, and let JESUS flood everyone around you with His LOVE. Don’t let this month be about chocolates and Valentine cards you’ll just throw in the trash. His LOVE is a game-changer, and a life-changer. And YOU are the one who can let it flow in full force!
