Our vertical LOVE life needs to stay connected in order for our horizontal LOVE life to thrive. What do I mean?

First, let’s focus on our Vertical Relationship, and then our Horizontal.

1. Our VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP! (1 John 4:7–10) – “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Do you love God? He loves us according to this verse. Not only that, but He proved His love. How? By paying the ultimate price in laying down His life for our wrongdoing, He demonstrated His great love. Do you know anybody else that would do that? Think about it.

2. Our HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIPS! (1 John 4:7) – “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God… Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

The obvious conclusion is that since Jesus Christ willingly and sacrificially laid down His life for us because of His unconditional love, then, in a sense, we can love others with the same kind of love. But how? Remember: as we trust in His redeeming blood, our sins are forgiven; and at the same time, He comes and lives within us by His Holy Spirit. His life becomes our POWER source to love with His kind of love.

Otherwise, without His power to love, then our love is dependent upon our human enablement, which lacks the power to overcome our feelings consistently. Do you agree?

In other words, eventually we do not feel like forgiving others over and over again, nor showing grace when our emotions are controlling us. Does that make sense? If so, reach up right now to your Heavenly Father and embrace His love! Thank Him. Love Him.

Conclusion: “Relationship Building Time This Valentine” starts with our VERTICAL Relationship with our great and mighty God. After receiving His remarkable love, then and only then can we extend His love to others HORIZONTALLY.