“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13 NIV

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 12:34-35 NIV

In the past couple weeks we’ve talked about building our faith through believing and trusting in God and Jesus. We have looked at standing on our real hope of one day being in heaven with God and Jesus. Today we are going to consider the last building block for our lives, love. Paul tells us that the “greatest” one is love. Jesus even gives us the command to love one another.

Faith and hope are the rock foundation that we build our lives on. But it is love that builds our lives. Love for God. Love for Jesus. Love for our families. Love for our friends. But God and Jesus expect more from us than just loving those who love us. They expect us to share the love They have given us. God and Jesus want us to shine love for others.

One of the ways we show love to others is that we put them and their needs before ours. I can’t wait to play my new video game after dinner. But my mom cooked dinner and now she wants me to help with the dishes. Instead of refusing or complaining, I smile and start running the water for the dishes. That’s shining love!

You can shine love for others in lots of ways. Talk to your parents about how you can show love for others. See the sun above with all the rays shining out? Start small and try to pick at least four things you can do for your family, or for a friend, or for a neighbor, or for your teacher. You can send a card, do a chore, or just spend time with someone. You can call someone who’s lonely, send a Valentine, or encourage someone who’s sad. Start building your life with four shining “rays” of love.

As you begin to shine love for others, pay attention to how it makes you feel. When you sing worship songs in church for God and Jesus – how do you feel? When you help willingly with a chore and your dad says thanks – how do you feel? When you write a card to someone who’s sick and they appreciate it – how do you feel? When you build your life with love, you help others to build theirs with love, too!

This week start shining love for others. Stand strong on your faith and hope, but build your life with love for God and Jesus, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and those you meet along the way. Shining love can be big things, like chores and helping out, but shining love can also be small things, like a smile, a wave, a hug, or a kind word.

Blessings as you build your life by shining love! Because “the greatest of these is love”.