The Bible has been described as God’s love letter to us. Now it isn’t like the letters I wrote to Jacqueline while we were dating, full of things like hugs and kisses, and it certainly isn’t like a romance novel that you would pick up at the Five and Dime (just checking to see how old you are). A lot of what is in those novels deals with getting what I want from another person, including those hugs and kisses. The Bible tells us the story of what God is willing to do to have a relationship with us and it isn’t just about what he wants or what we have to do. It is a story of sacrifice, mostly what God was willing to sacrifice for us. It is a story of love in action and he is the one doing most of that as well.
I Corinthians 13 lays out for us God’s idea of what love should be. It isn’t found in grand gestures that boil down to nothing in the end like a clanging cymbal or empty promises. Love shows up every day and does what needs to be done, even if it isn’t front page news. Love seeks the good of the other person and doesn’t put itself and selfish needs first. Love isn’t grouchy, but understands when the other person is. Love always shows up, but doesn’t show out. In most ways God’s love is just the opposite of what we celebrate on Valentine’s Day.
While it is nice having that someone who makes your heart pitter patter it is also nice having that deeper more secure love that you know isn’t going anywhere. God isn’t looking for a better date or a better deal. God isn’t just in love with you, but he is committed to you, so much so that he gave us his one and only son, Jesus. It isn’t a competition to see who God loves the most, God loves us all. Therefore, I need to reflect that love. I don’t have to be better than you so that God will love me more. He already loves me completely. I don’t have to hate you so that God will know how much I love him. In fact it is in loving others that I show how much I understand how much God loves me. So if you want to send God a valentine this year, share his love with those around you (especially the grouchy ones).
Don
I Corinthians 13 lays out for us God’s idea of what love should be. It isn’t found in grand gestures that boil down to nothing in the end like a clanging cymbal or empty promises. Love shows up every day and does what needs to be done, even if it isn’t front page news. Love seeks the good of the other person and doesn’t put itself and selfish needs first. Love isn’t grouchy, but understands when the other person is. Love always shows up, but doesn’t show out. In most ways God’s love is just the opposite of what we celebrate on Valentine’s Day.
While it is nice having that someone who makes your heart pitter patter it is also nice having that deeper more secure love that you know isn’t going anywhere. God isn’t looking for a better date or a better deal. God isn’t just in love with you, but he is committed to you, so much so that he gave us his one and only son, Jesus. It isn’t a competition to see who God loves the most, God loves us all. Therefore, I need to reflect that love. I don’t have to be better than you so that God will love me more. He already loves me completely. I don’t have to hate you so that God will know how much I love him. In fact it is in loving others that I show how much I understand how much God loves me. So if you want to send God a valentine this year, share his love with those around you (especially the grouchy ones).
Don
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