A recent Public Forum writer expressed his concern about members of the LGBTQ community being bullied. Nothing good comes using words to belittle someone. The writer made several statements supporting the LGBTQ community at the end of his article. “Love is love.” was listed second. Hearing that you are loved are words that make you feel good and appreciated.

The most wonderful definition of love is stated in the Bible: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.” (1 John 3:16) Many know another verse about God’s love, spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus, a man who came to Jesus by night. He belonged to a group that did not accept Jesus as God’s Son and the promised Savior from sin, death and the devil. John 3:16, 17:, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Not being free of sin, we find ourselves using our own feelings and reasoning for what we do or say. John writes, “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.” (1 John 5:2) We may have our own thoughts about love and marriage, but don’t we best honor our loving God by living according to what He desires? We can pray as Jesus did to His Father in heaven before His death on a cross. “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Trudy Madetzke

Marshall