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WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 2024

*THEME: IS THIS LOVE?*

*MEMORISE:*
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4:

*READ: 1 JOHN 4:8-12*

[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

[12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

*MESSAGE:*
Love is a word that has been bastardised by young people who cannot differentiate between love and infatuation. While love is unconditional, infatuation is based on certain conditions.

When someone truly loves you, he or she will not be consumed by the thoughts of your physical body or what they can get from you.

Jesus has shown us what it means to truly love through the following:

*1. He died for us to bring us closer to God:* If that boy or girl that claims to love you cannot sacrifice lust so that you can both get closer to God, it is not true love.

*2. He gives us daily benefits without expecting anything in return:* If someone of the opposite sex buys gifts for you and expects something in return, his or her love is questionable.

*3. He defends us before God when we fail:* Jesus intercedes for us before God. Can the boy or girl that claims to love you defend you or never speak ill of you in your absence?

If those who claim to love you are not committed to God, then they shouldn't be in your inner circle. Do not conclude that someone loves you just because he or she tells you sweet words and buys gifts for you. Nobody can love you if they do not have a relationship with God and exhibit His character in their daily lives.

*REFLECTION:*
True love goes beyond showing affection or giving gifts on Valentine's Day.

*HYMN: THERE'S NOT A FRIEND LIKE THE LOWLY JESUS*

1. There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!
None else could heal all our soul's diseases–
No, not one! no, not one!

CHORUS:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus–
No, not one! no, not one!

2 No friend like Him is so high and holy–
No, not one! no, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly–
No, not one! no, not one!

3 There's not an hour that He is not near us –
No, not one! no, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us–
No, not one! no, not one!

4. Did ever saint find this friend forsake him?
No not one! no not one!
Or sinner find that he would not take him?
No not one! no not one!

5. Was e'er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! no, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! no, not one!

*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:*
Exodus 37:1-38:31; Matthew 28:1-20

*AUTHORS:* Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye