From the perspective of Love

Without love, God would not have provided a sacrifice for our sin. Without love, we cannot receive this gift. Love is the beginning of all that is valuable. God is love and it's altogether good and anti-worldly. It goes against the grain of all that is messed up in this World. It fights for the justice of those who have no power or voice to speak. It's pure.

"We love because He first loved us." 1 Jn 4:19

"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." 1 Jn 3:18

From the perspective of love, lip service is not enough. Anyone can lie and "give" their all to someone using words. I see it daily, just by talking with friends or reading the news. Lives have been ensnared because of the false advertisement of love. Words are wonderful when genuine, but they echo more strongly when actions follow through.

Implications for life:

• If you love someone don't just say it, give them help when they need it most.
• Help someone even when they don't ask, don't advertise your service. This is for their benefit, not mine.
• Give, give up, give away... whatever they need you to do.
  
• Lent is a great time to reflect on how we normally use our money on the things that are given up. Perhaps your soda, chocolate, movie ticket, etc. that you gave up could be given as a gift to someone else.

The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbour; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.

—Mere Christianity