Right about now, many folks are celebrating love with their special someone, or they’re bummed because they don’t have a person, or maybe even just doing their best to ignore this popular day our culture has set aside to celebrate “love.” Where do you fit in today?
You know, the great thing about getting closer to Jesus is that even celebrations like Valentine’s Day can be celebrated no matter what our relationship circumstances!
When we experience God’s supernatural love, we discover that the best part of life is giving away the love we’ve been given. And Valentine’s Day is just such an opportunity to supercharge our gift of love. The Bible reminds us:
“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
The proof we love God is in how we submit ourselves to Him. When we live in loving obedience to Him, He purifies our love and makes it like His.
We begin loving others BEFORE they love us.
We love others BECAUSE God loves us.
Have you experienced this great gift of love that never fails? Do you know the opportunities it gives you? When we accept God’s priceless gift of salvation, we are connected to a fountain of love that will never run dry. What does this love look like? Well, it’s the of love described in 1 Corinthians 13:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Today, no matter what your relationship status is—if you have a relationship with God—you have the opportunity to join Him in experiencing His tremendous love. So make special plans to show someone else what His love looks like. Ask God to guide your day to demonstrate His love to someone who may have never experienced it. Plan a surprise for someone who isn’t expecting from you. Be kind to someone who is rude. Do something intentional for someone else in the name of love.
I promise you, the love you share with others—which you are getting from God—will refresh your soul.
How does this happen? Well, because when the love we share is from God, we get to give away something indescribably wonderful and bigger than we possess within ourselves. When we give God’s love, what we receive is greater than what we give away. This gift of God’s love far surpasses the gifts of flowers, candy and romance, which usually fade before they fully bloom.
God‘s love is from God and it enlightens us and makes us wise.
God’s love makes us secure enough to love others—not blindly—but rather, within the boundaries of His wisdom. We are enabled to GIVE love without reservation. We know we are unconditionally loved by God and therefore, we are NOT looking for someone else to make us whole. God’s presence satisfies us and gives us opportunities to GIVE love. In fact, even if you desire a partner, when you are finding your complete satisfaction in a relationship with God, you have the ability to objectively pursue human relationships without the confusion of infatuation or other confusing emotions. With the mind of and attitudes of Christ, we can better evaluate a prospective mate’s relationship with God, their values, work ethic, compatibility, etc. Jesus said:
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
“ALL these things” includes our relationships! A love relationship with God enables us to build all our human relationships in His love. The Bible explains that we should become “rooted and grounded in love,” that we “may have STRENGTH to COMPREHEND with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,” and be filled with all the “fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17b-19
