Bible Reading: Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 4:7-13

“I’m not going to Topher’s birthday party,” Declan told his mother as they walked down the grocery aisle. “Not if Walker’s there.”

“That’s not very nice,” said Mom. “For Topher or Walker.”

“Yeah, well, they both deserve it! Walker’s mean and makes fun of people, and Topher just wants to be friends with him so the other kids will think he’s cool.”

They stopped in front of a display filled with bags of heart-shaped candy, and Declan’s younger brother eagerly looked for something to pass out to his kindergarten class with his valentines. “Can I get this kind?” Ben asked, picking up a bag.

“Let’s see,” Mom said, reading the package. “We’ll need two bags of these. There are only twenty pieces in each bag, and there are twenty-one kids in your class.”

“One’s enough,” said Ben. “I’m not giving one to Steven. He’s mean, and he doesn’t deserve candy.”

“Ben,” said Mom, “Valentine’s Day is all about love, remember? It’s not very loving to bring treats for all but one person in your class. As Christians, we need to love others the way Jesus loves us–even those who aren’t nice to us. Either we buy enough to share with Steven or we don’t buy any at all.”

Ben scowled. “No! I’m not getting one for Steven,” he said, crossing his arms.

Mom placed the candy back on the shelf and started walking away. “Wait!” Ben exclaimed, tugging at her coat. “Okay, okay, I’ll get one for Steven!”

Declan smirked at Ben’s sudden change in attitude. “You know,” Mom said, eyeing him, “that goes for friendships as well as candy.”

Declan looked at her and grimaced. “You’re talking about Topher’s party, aren’t you?”

Mom nodded. “The truth is, we don’t get to decide whether someone deserves to have us show them God’s love, because none of us deserve it. Yet God showed His love for us all by sending Jesus to take the punishment for our sins on the cross. As His followers, He calls us to love others–even those we don’t get along with.”

“Like Walker,” Declan said. He sighed, then nodded. “I’ll tell Topher that I’ll go to his party. Maybe I can get some candy to share too.”

–LeAnn Campbell

How About You?
Do you find it hard to love people who aren’t nice to you? Some people aren’t easy to love, but God wants us to love them anyway. He loves us so much that Jesus came to earth, suffered a painful death, and raised Himself back to life to save us from sin. We don’t deserve His love, but He gives it to us freely, and He will help us love others–even those who aren’t easy to love.

Today’s Key Verse:
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (NKJV) (1 John 4:7 )

Today’s Key Thought:
Show love to everyone