He’ll never be able to wash away his daughter’s love.

In a recent interview on The Bonnie Hunt Show, Billy Ray Cyrus showed off his most-recent tattoo: a simple heart, inked on his hand in between the base of his thumb and index finger. It seems his famous daughter, Miley, penciled a temporary drawing in that very spot during a Sunday morning church service! Afterwards, they both traveled to a Pasadena, California tattoo shop, where Billy Ray made the sketch permanent.

I can’t help but wonder what Billy Ray thinks every time he glances down at his left hand. Is he reminded of a worship service when his daughter was definitely not listening to the sermon? Does he  regret agreeing to make the drawing permanent if a tattoo shop could be found open on a Sunday afternoon? I actually think he is reminded of Miley’s love for her father. That tattoo is a visual representation that her daddy has her heart.

I’m personally not a big fan of tattoos or others doodling during my sermons, but this interview made me think about my love for my Heavenly Father and his love for me. How does God know I love him? Biblically, I don’t show my love for him by tattooing my body, merely telling him “I love you,” or even singing with all my heart about my devotion to him. I am to show my love for God by my obedience. John writes, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3 NASB). The visual symbol of our love of God is living an obedient lifestyle.

But God has left an even greater reminder of his love for us. If you ever want to know for sure whether God loves you, one glance at the cross should forever make the Father’s love come into clear focus. Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NASB). When Jesus stretched out his arms on the beam of his wooden cross, he declared to you, “I love you this much”! As a Christ-follower, you should never doubt God’s love for you—even during the most trying of circumstances.

February is the month of Valentine’s Day. Often it is described as “love month.” Husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends fret over what they will do or purchase for their significant other to somehow demonstrate their love. Flowers, candy, cards, and dinners are often the gifts of choice.

For the Christian, however, Scripture tells us how we can best show our love both for the God who saved us and the people who surround us. Jesus cited them as the first and greatest commands: “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 38 (NLT).

My challenge to you this month is to follow Jesus’ challenge. Love God completely as you never have before in your life. Demonstrate your love through your obedience to his commands. And love others around you in practical ways that will show them just how much you care for them. Let God’s love for you show itself in your treatment of those near and dear to you as well as the strangers you meet daily.

As we allow God’s love to flow through us to others in our actions and back to him in our following him without reserve, the world will take notice. They will want what we have. Doors will open to share the Good News. And people will experience forgiveness of sin, a relationship with Jesus, and hope for eternal life.

Scott