Apostle John, C.L.O.

Greater love hath no man
than this...(John 15:13)

Steve Harvey (the clean version), is one of my favorite comics, and is fond of referring to himself as C.L.O. (Chief Love Officer).  His Chicago-based T.V. show routinely features men and women with relationship problems and as a best selling author and cultural icon, Steve considers himself an expert in matters of the heart! 

Well, I found another that has more experience, whose advice is more reliable, and who has been on the World's Best Selling list for years!   It's the Apostle John of the New Testament!

John, the Apostle, not to be confused with John the Baptist or the others you'll find in the Bible has long been known as the Apostle of Love!  It could be because love is a favorite theme in his New Testament writings (Gospel of John,  First, Second, Third John, and Revelation) or because he had the privilege of walking, talking, leaning on, and learning from its Original Creator, Our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Depending on when you're reading this, Valentine's Day may already be fading fast, but here's a message about True Love that never gets trite or stale and John is just the one to remind us!


***True Love is Experiential!  Are you still trying to figure out why someone says they love you but their words and actions don't seem to jibe?  Maybe you're basing love on worldly perspectives rather than Christ's!  Okay, so he forgot the card and candy! Didn't make dinner reservations and you ended up eating take-out or leftovers! I'm not saying you're not deserving of more and certainly not giving Brothers a pass for being insensitive, but hear what the C.L.O. says in John 21:15-22.  He recounts Jesus restoring His fellowship with Peter, 

an apostle who denied and abandoned Him in His time of need!  We often learn how to love others as we have been loved in the past!  Your significant other may not be able to give you what he has never experienced.  Your compassion and willingness to forgive him of this flaw, may be a critical first lesson!

***True Love is Unconditional! How faithful has your loved one been the other 364 days of the year? Can you depend on him to work and pay bills?  Is he there when you're sick? During times of crisis or when you need emotional support?  Now here's the  kicker...how faithful are YOU?  If he drops the ball, even once on any of these...does he dread having to face you!  We are all imperfect in some area! Yet John tells us in I John 4:18-19, There is no fear in love.  We shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes, fall short in areas of weakness, especially if past behavior proves that our real intent is to be true to our roles and responsibilities. We hang in there and believe the best about our loved one!

***True Love is Sacrificial! Let's be honest, we don't always get our way when it comes to how we want to be appreciated!  As Gary Chapman, says in his book, The Five Love Languages, our love tank may be on "E" most days!  But do we stew in frustration, let the Enemy have his way or do we continue to Pray, Communicate, and Look for opportunities to rescue our relationship from certain death?  John 3:16, says it all:  God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!

CHRIST DIED FOR A HOPE THAT HE DID NOT SEE YET BELIEVED EXISTED!

ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THE SAME FOR TRUE LOVE?

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

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