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Stradivarius violins, cellos, and guitars are among the most treasured musical instruments in the world. Crafted during the 17th and 18th centuries, the pieces are rare and invaluable. Something so precious deserves the utmost care. So, when a Stradivarius cello—worth more than $20 million—fell off a table during a photo shoot, it was truly shocking!

Just as a Stradivarius must be handled carefully, so must our relationships. We’re to love others because Christ demonstrated His love toward us. In John 13:34, Jesus gave His disciples a command that requires careful attention: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Why did Christ call it a new command? It was new because it was rooted in the way Jesus loved people. This new command to love wasn’t careless or casual but intentional, precious, and sacrificial. Loving this way would lead to discipleship, self-denial, and possibly even death for the disciples. This care for one another would be how they survived in a difficult and hostile world after Christ’s departure. And Jesus told them, “Everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (v. 35).

Let’s carefully and sacrificially love others—reflecting Jesus’ precious and priceless love.

Already scarred, Phillis Dewitt entered the foster care system as a teenager, where she encountered even more sexual abuse. Will she ever escape her predators? Will she ever be freed from the secrets she keeps? Don’t miss this powerful story on the next Unshackled!

How to Say No to a Stubborn Habit

Counseling Consultation and Referrals

Coming Home: An Invitation to Join God’s Family

What Does the Bible Say About Sin: 5 Sins that are Hurting Your Relationships

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family Weekend, please give us your feedback.

How can you make your marriage stronger, more loving, and more resilient? Find out on this Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman. Author and speaker, Dr. Greg Smalley will tackle the lies about marriage that are rampant in the culture. Ideas such as: “You must meet each other’s needs,” and, “One plus one equals one.” What’s the problem with those statements? Don’t miss Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman.

Featured resource: 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage: And the Truths That Will Save It and Set It Free

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Read: James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:18

Sebastian was so focused on coloring the big red heart that he didn’t hear his dad come into his room. Dad stood behind him and read the poem written on the card Sebastian was making out loud. “‘Roses are red, the snow is white…you light up my life like a big headlight.’” Dad grinned. “You certainly have a way with words, son. I’m guessing this Valentine isn’t for your mom.”

Sebastian looked up from his coloring. “It’s for a girl in my class. It took me two weeks to come up with that. Do you think she’ll like it?”

“I think every girl likes to hear kind words. What else are you planning to do for her for Valentine’s Day?”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything. I was just going to wow her with words.”

Dad smiled. “Your words are a great start, but you need to do something to back up what you say. Offer to clean the hamster cage when it’s her turn. Or change your poem to ‘A rosy, red rose, a white snowflake…you warm my heart like a cookie that’s baked,’ and make her a batch of cookies. Do something to prove your words have meaning.”

“Did Grandpa give you this advice when you were my age?” Sebastian asked.

“Believe it or not, I got this from the Bible.”

Sebastian laughed. “I don’t think the Bible talks about baking cookies.”

“No, but it does talk about backing up our words with action. It tells us to show the truth of our love not only through what we say, but what we do. Think of it like this. The Bible says that God loved the world and that He gave His only Son, Jesus. God doesn’t just say He loves us. He backs it up with action. And we need to do more than just say nice things to people. We need to do things that show them we care—not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day.”

Sebastian pulled a fresh piece of paper from his desk drawer.

“What are you doing now?” Dad asked.

“Tell me that poem about baking cookies again,” said Sebastian. “I want to remake this card and then go put a batch of cookies in the oven.”

–Jared Hottenstein

How about you? Do you say kind words to people and tell them you care about them? That’s great, but don’t forget to back up the truth of your words with action. God wants us to build others up with our words, but He also wants us to live out our faith in what we do as well as what we say. Love others like Jesus by letting them know you care through both your words and your actions.

Today's Key Verse: Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: Live out love

Anger can be a good thing when we deal with it in a healthy way.

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One of the most dramatic and mysterious love letters of all time was penned by composer Ludwig van Beethoven and was only discovered after his death in 1827. The hastily handwritten letter is full of passionate lines like, “My eternally beloved . . . I can only live either wholly with you or not at all.” Tragically, it appears the letter was never sent, and his intended recipient remains unknown. 

Beethoven’s letter is treasured by readers who can identify with his desperate yearning for love. We seek love and fulfillment in many people, things, and experiences that cannot fully satisfy. But far greater than a fleeting romance is the love of God for His covenant people, to whom He showed great love for the sake of all people. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God declared, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). Because of His great love, God promised a future of rest and favor (v. 2) and the restoration of anything that was broken (v. 4). Despite their repeated rejection and rebellion, God vowed to bring them back to Himself (v. 9).

Many years later, that same everlasting love motivated Jesus to endure death for sinners, even before we ever returned His love (Romans 5:8). We don’t have to search for love or try to earn it. We’re already loved with an everlasting love!

What happens when we stop drifting financially and start stewarding intentionally? When God’s purposes shape our financial decisions, money becomes a tool for clarity, freedom, and faithful living. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Brian Holtz explain why intentional, biblically grounded stewardship matters. They also share an opportunity for believers to grow in that calling. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith and Finance Live . . . biblical wisdom for your financial journey, weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

SEGMENT 1

• How can I grow in my affections and feelings toward God, and not just head-knowledge? – Lauren

SEGMENT 2

• Can true forgiveness only occur when the at-fault person apologizes? – Josh

SEGMENT 3

• If you don’t support the sinner’s prayer, how should we advise non-believers who are seeking like the rich man was in Matthew 19:16? – Anonymous

• What’re your thoughts on the prevalence in some areas of the church of men drinking whiskey and smoking cigars? – Anonymous

SEGMENT 4

• Are we at risk of taking scripture out of context when we see parallels between two different texts? – Anonymous

• What are the biblical grounds for remarriage after divorce? – Anonymous

• Are Christians obligated to undergo medical procedures that, while injurious, could prolong one’s life? – Ryan

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