What is love, really? Well, the Hollywood version of love is jumping into bed with someone, then you start finding out about them, and then if it doesn’t work out, you can go your merry way. No harm, no foul. Is love just a feeling? Is it just something that makes you tingly all over. Song writer’s have been handing us this type thing for years and we have been swallowing it hook, line, and sinker. If we were fish most of us would be dead.
This kind of thinking is also in the church today. We are trying to emulate men that we think are good, but the only example we should be following as Christians is Christ himself. Any other example falls short of what we are striving for. Christ not only gave himself for all of mankind, but he gave himself when he knew that many would not accept him. That kind of self-sacrifice is what we should be striving towards, even though it is impossible to obtain. In the following scripture, the “love” passage, substitute the word charity with love. That is what true charity is.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”
“Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”
“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away.”
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.”
“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
In other words people, if you do all sorts of great things to try and be seen of men (which is the way most men give), in terms of lasting value, there is none. Everything done for the LORD that He recognizes are the things that men probably won’t even see. My father-in-law used to tell the story of a man who tried to witness to a very famous Hollywood actor (if I told you the identity you would be shocked). This man tried to tell the “star” about Christ, but the “star” shut him down, saying “You talk to me again when you start giving as much money as I do to this charity and that charity.”
That is the way the world looks too – if someone gives a lot of money they are justified. When celebrities die you always see political cartoons of them reaching heaven (no matter what type of lifestyle they have had or whether they ever knew Christ at all).
Do not look to men. Look to Christ. Look at his example. Christ was in agony. Bloody, battered, and dying he cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” To each and every one of us, do you know what he was saying at that moment?
“Be my Valentine!”
AE
and continuing…
Everyone wants to be loved. Every single person you know just wants to be loved, accepted, and cared for. But many are looking for love in all the wrong places. They are looking for fairy tale love. They want someone to rescue them from all of life’s problems. They want a person to fill the void inside of them. They want someone who will make them happy and help them to feel fulfilled. My heart aches for people looking for someone to be that person who will fulfill their hearts desire.
You will never find perfect happiness by finding your “soulmate.” You may find the most amazing spouse, and they may be completely amazing, but they cannot and will not complete you. True completeness, happiness, and joy comes from knowing and trusting in God. He alone can make us complete.
Very rarely do people seeking love really understand what true love is. They wouldn’t know it if it walked up and bit them on the nose. Love is not a feeling. Love is an action. Love is commitment, and sacrifice, and giving up yourself to serve the needs of others. I often don’t love people the way that God loves them. Because agape love (God love) is hard work. Work I’m not always willing to do. It’s easier to just serve me. I’d rather curl up with a book and hot tea when I should instead be pouring out more of myself to show others the love of Christ.
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
God’s love is far greater, far deeper, and far more meaningful than we will ever be able to fathom. We are so blessed to have a God who loves us unconditionally. He will never leave us or forsake us. This valentine’s day let’s share the love of Jesus with someone who is seeking love!
GA
Voice of the Introverts 