When I was a teenager, a song with the title above was popular. It said, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No, not just for one, but for everyone.” A simple song with a message that rings true.
Unfortunately, the song spoke of a pretty shallow type of love. This kind of love really only says “I love you”, without the actions to demonstrate love. It implies that if we just say kind things everything will be alright.
We all know that is not true. We can say that we love someone and hide the worst kind of thoughts about them. We can say the same words, and mean them, without ever lifting a finger to help them or do a kind act for them.
When Jesus spoke of love, he often referred to a love that is sacrificial, selfless, and overwhelmingly giving. In fact, this is the kind of love that God has for us. Even though we are sinners, the Father gave His only Son so that we could be saved from the penalty for our sins and live eternally with Him. In I John 3:18 we are given the instructions on how to love; “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” We should show the truth of our words with sacrificial and selfless acts of love. Then we reflect the same type of love that God has for us.
Reluctant Retiree 