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Have you ever known a die-hard sport fan? Almost everything about them is defined by their team. They wear the team colors, cheer at the games, and love talking about their team and its players. But they are nothing compared to Philippos Stavrou Platini. Philippos lives in Mosfiloti, Cyprus. He is not just a fan of a team, he is the fan of a particular French football play — or for those in the U.S., a soccer player. Philippos has the Guinness Book record for the largest collection of sporting memorabilia. He has 40,669 items adorning a kebab shop in his town. But that’s not all. Philippos changed his surname to the name of his idolized player.* His very identity is defined by his passion as a fan!
What defines you? For that matter, what defines God? Obviously, God is beyond our comprehension. He is the creator, sustainer and savior of the world. But one thing we must know about God is recorded in 1 John 4:8, “God is love.”
So what does that mean for us? Well, the verse says it well. “Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.” So, do the people who know you, realize that you know God? Well, that will only happen if you love others. You see, knowing God will produce his love in us. Love is the fruit of the Spirit.
*The Associated Press, “Platini’s biggest fan earns soccer memorabilia records,” KSL.com, Sept. 8, 2017, https://www.ksl.com/article/45721034/platinis-biggest-fan-earns-soccer-memorabilia-records
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.