February, the month of valentines, Cupid, and true love. It’s as full of counterfeits as a Monopoly set. Trade our savings account for a stack of Monopoly money? Never. It’s not real. But when it comes to love, we happily nibble on the chocolate-covered counterfeits of our culture. The Bachelor, rom-coms, and Disney movies color our picture of love. And sometimes, the colors are as false as the pastel shades of Monopoly money.

Experts tell you, to spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. So this month, we’ll study true love by exploring John 15:12 NIV:

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

If we are to love each other as He has loved us, well, how has He loved us?

John’s next verse clues us in:

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friend. (John 15:13 NIV)

Love—true love—costs. A toddler learns to share and lets go of a favorite toy. One sibling stands up for another and risks Mom and Dad’s disapproval. A son cares for his aging mother and has the same conversation again and again in a ten-minute period. A wife and mom walks the tightrope of those two callings, balancing the needs of her husband and those of her children. Does anyone notice her needs?

Time, energy, money, convenience.

Love costs.

And sometimes it costs everything—like Danny, Axe, and Mikey of Lone Survivor fame.

Like Jesus. He lay down His life for us and God raised Him from the dead to live again.

Sometimes the daily grind of loving just feels like it’s taking everything. We’re out of patience, our nerves are shot, and we’re feeling anything but loving.

Remember Jesus, not for His death this time, but for His resurrection.

For when our lives are given, God stands ready to do the same for us.

So go ahead. Lay down your life. Again and again and again.

The resurrection power lies with Him.

Questions:

What price have you paid to love someone?

When is it easy to pay? When is it hard?

What price do people pay to love you?

Go around the table and share what it costs to love each other and why you are willing to pay the price.

Whom do you need to love today? How will you do it? What will it cost you?

When it comes to love, we happily nibble on the chocolate-covered counterfeits of our culture. Click To Tweet
Experts tell you, to spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Click To Tweet
Love—true love—costs. Click To Tweet
He lay down His life and God raised Him from the dead to live again. When we lay down our lives, God stands ready to do the same for us. Click To Tweet
So go ahead. Lay down your life. Again and again and again. The resurrection power lies with Him. Click To Tweet