Well, we all know that Valentine’s Day was eleven days ago now. The day to tell people we love them via chocolates and cards written by other people! (Just kidding, I’m not really that cynical. I do the love the day after, though- 50% off chocolate!). We spent our Valentine’s Day at church; I preached my second sermon! We also welcomed Dan to our town, and he stayed with us until our arrival here in Jinja.
Valentine’s Day had me thinking, though. Our culture inundates us with images of what “love” is. It’s that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling. It’s that dewy-eyed look. It’s running between backed-up cars in New York City to catch the taxi that the person you love is in. It’s sending a dozen yellow roses to someone every day, just because it’s their favorite. It’s physical attraction. It’s never saying “I’m sorry”. It’s as fair as war is. It’s all smiles. Honestly? I don’t want Hollywood-style love. Because it’s not love.
So where can we find out what love is? From God, because 1 John tells us that God IS love. Love is mentioned a lot in the Bible. Jacob worked fourteen years to be able to marry Rachel, and we’re told that “they seemed like only a few days to him, because of his love for her,” (Gen. 29:20). Jesus told us that “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
And perhaps the best-known commentary on love is from I Corinthians…the famous “love chapter”. It’s what is read at weddings all the time. But do we really pay attention?
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Like I said before, God is love. So, it follows then, that God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud. God is not rude, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
So, if that’s what love is, and God is those things, and Jesus is God, and we’re supposed to be like Him (check out Ephesians 4:23-24), then I should be able to insert my name in there, too.
“Robin is patient, Robin is kind. Robin does not envy, Robin does not boast, Robin is not proud.” Ouch!! I’ll stop there, because I’m already riding the struggle bus after those first few. This caused me do a heart-check, definitely.
Can you put your name into that verse? How are you doing? I hope you’re doing better than I am. But if not?
His mercies are new every morning!
