Lovingkindness is an attribute that comes from within. It is not mechanistic or legalistic. It is not theoretical. It is not theatrical. It is real. Although the word love is ubiquitous in songs, films, adverts and relationship dramas, it is often superficial. The focus appears to be more on what you do rather than who you are. It is because God is love that God is loving. When we have God’s love within us, we cannot but be loving towards one another. John writes in his first letter that if we are not loving, then we do not know the love of God and, in fact, we are liars.

Our increasingly godless, loveless society can only pay lip service to a concept that they have not understood. How can children (or anyone) grasp loving without knowing they are made in the image of a loving creator? How can they express lovingkindness when taught that success derives from a Darwinian survival of the fittest? The spirit of anti-Christ mocks the self-sacrifice of Jesus and pursues self-aggrandisement, self-image and self-gratification. When times are good, folks say they are in love. When they get what they want, they are loving. For them, love is a feeling that goes up and down with circumstances.

Real loving is not based on things going well or being treated well. It has the higher objective of loving God through loving others. It is coupled in the Scriptures with kindness, because that is how the loving is expressed. It has compassion for those who are struggling, helps those in need. Rather than merely repaying good for good (or evil for evil), it repays good for evil. That is what God did for us. He demonstrated His love for us in that whilst we were still His enemies -- whilst we were powerless -- He poured out His love into our hearts.

Loving is our character trait for this month, and it just so happens that February is known particularly for it's 14th day when people take the opportunity to express how much they love each other. Valentine's Day can be considered tacky and commercialised and we may not agree with everything it represents, but it's arguably a pretty good idea to take some time to focus on love.

Of course, V-Day concentrates on romantic love, but how about we change the rules a little bit?

NEW RULES

1. Valentine's Day is now every day.
2. Once a day you have to let someone know you love them.
3. Recipients of love include: Parents, children, siblings (including the annoying ones), friends, teachers, strangers, the dog (deservedly so), people on the internet, people you don't agree with, people who mock you and hate you (oooo, it's getting serious now).
4. Expressions of love can come in the form of: Washing the dishes for mum, hugging a sibling, liking someones photo, telling a spouse (or anyone for that matter) how much you appreciate them, praying for the world and its residents, being available to help those in need, smiling at a stranger, sacrificing your time for the benefit of another, not snapping at someone when they are being frustrating...

In summary, the new rules make being loving into a way of life, rather than limiting it to one day of the year.

Jesus, our PRIME example says: