Practicing Love on Valentine’s Day – Showing Agape Love – Purity 1887
Purity 1887 02/14/2026 Purity 1887 Audio Podcast
Purity 1887 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of the fading light of the sun sinking into the horizon over the “heart” of the forest that borders Waite Road comes to us from yours truly, as I captured this tranquil early evening scene last night while walking the dog near my countryside home in Easton.
Well, it’s Saturday and Valentine’s Day, so let’s remember to remind our loved ones how much they are appreciated. Whether through acts of service, words of kindness, or gifts of affection, let’s practice love today.
I know that for some of us, Valentine’s Day and the idea of “practicing love” can be a sore subject, as our society corrupts and diminishes what love is by promoting sexual immorality, making those who are alone feel less than, and dishonoring traditional marriage.
As much as the world may try to corrupt and distort the love of intimate relationships, the good news is that God uses His Word to tell us what true love looks like. Rather than put forth my own ideas about love, I will share an excerpt from the “love chapter” in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, which says:
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
So, when I say “practice love,” it doesn’t require that you have a spouse or significant other. We can love others by being kind and patient, and by not demanding our own way. We can love others by being faithful and hopeful in times of trouble. We can practice love by not keeping a record of wrongs and by forgiving others as we have been forgiven in Christ. We can practice love by sharing the love we have received from God.
Speaking of the love of God, today’s In Touch devotion with Charles Stanley focuses on agape love, and I am sharing it on the blog to encourage us all to practice the love God has given us—love that doesn’t require a special Valentine. As Charles Stanley writes:
“Showing Agape Love
Divine love enables us to forgive, serve generously, and restore those who have fallen.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Yesterday, we saw that agape, or unconditional love, empowers us to respond calmly to difficulties, show patience while waiting, and sacrifice without complaint. We demonstrate agape when we …
Forgive. Once the prodigal son returned, love made it possible for his father to let go of past hurts and forgive the young man (1 Peter 4:8). We can do the same for people who hurt us, though that doesn’t mean we should allow the harm to continue.
Act generously. The son came home with few expectations. His father greeted him and dressed him in the finest garments. Godly love, which keeps no record of wrongs, made it possible to show such generosity.
Serve joyfully. Upon receiving back what “was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:32), the father hosted a celebration. He expressed his love by letting joy overflow in service to others.
Restore those who fall. The one who both abandoned his father and squandered his inheritance was again given the rights of a son.
When we sin, our heavenly Father patiently waits for us to turn back to Him. He accepts our repentance, rejoices in our return, and restores intimacy with Him. And we’re meant to extend agape to others. With whom could you share this love?” – Charles Stanley
Amen. John 3:16 tells us that: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The agape love of God is shown to us through the person of Jesus Christ and when we receive it we become capable others in ways we never were before because after we put our faith in Jesus, the Lord’s love lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.
So this Valentine’s Day, and every day, let the Holy Spirit guide you to love others as God has loved you.
——————————————————————
For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
——————————————————————
Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on Progressive Sanctification – Growing in Faith & Godliness.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Today’s verse falls under the eighteenth point of our counseling reference guide resource section on Progressive Sanctification – Growing in Faith & Godliness.
18. God is graciously transforming every Christian more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Today’s Bible verse tells us how God is transforming us by His Holy Spirit.
After salvation, we are invited by the Holy Spirit to follow the Lord in finding and fulfilling our purpose—to become more and more like Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit’s power and help, we can overcome sin and become more loving. The Holy Spirit prompts us to change and to do good works for the benefit of others.
When we accept our new identities in Christ and choose to trust God with the rest of our lives, He guides us into paths of righteousness and helps us flow in streams of abundant love. So put away your selfishness and other childish things, and choose to enter into the Holy Spirit’s process of transformation. It will cause you to love the Lord with all your mind, heart, soul, and strength and will guide you to love your neighbor as yourself.
———————————————————–
As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from “Pause for Power” By Warren Wiersbe.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Wiersbe’s books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 21 – No Longer Babies – Read Romans 14:13–23
Let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. – Romans 14:13
When a child comes into a home, everything has to change. Mother and Father are careful not to leave the scissors on the chair or anything dangerous within reach. But as the child matures, it is possible for the parents to deal with the youngster in a more adult fashion.
Young Christians need the kind of fellowship that will protect them and encourage them to grow. But they cannot be treated like babies all their lives. The older Christians must exercise love and patience and be careful not to cause them to stumble. However, the younger Christians must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). To gear the ministry of a local church only to the “baby Christians” is to hinder their growth as well as the ministry of the more mature saints. The weak must learn from the strong, and the strong must love the weak. The result will be peace and maturity to the glory of God.
Something to Ponder – Are you more or less mature than the others in the programs you’re involved with? What does this tell you about your role in each of those programs?[1]
The MT4Christ247 audio podcast is available on YouTube, Apple, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartradio, Podbean, Audible, and many more podcast platforms!
Subscribe to The MT4Christ247 Channel on YouTube!
Email me at m.t.clark@mt4christ.com with any questions, or comments, or to inquire about our Christian Life Coaching or Prayer Ministry Services.
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”
Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
Support MT 4 Christ Community Freedom Ministry!
To Give via Pay Pal Go to the MT4Christ Donations Page
Or Give Via Venmo or the Cash App by scanning the QR Code below:
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures, 2nd Ed., Year in the Word Series (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010).
Leave a Reply