L is for...
Today is fabulous. It's 70 degrees outside AND I'm in a dress and flip-flops. Seriously... LOVING TODAY.
There is also a little something else that makes me love today. I LOVE Valentine's Day... a lot. With that said, I also know that today can be hard for a lot of people. Today can serve as a reminder of negative circumstances for those who have been widowed, abandoned, abused, or for people who just feel lonely (single and married folks alike).
In light of that, I want share a few encouraging things that I love about “love.”
One of the most overused passages in the Bible on this topic is 1 Corinthians 13. Although it might be overused, it’s still a great passage. In summary, the first part speaks to the importance of love “if you don’t have love, you have nothing.” And the final part tells us what love should look like “Love is patient, Love is kind… always trusts, always, hopes, always perseveres, etc.” Read it here.
In the world we live in, love is defined in a self-fulfilling sort of way. We love things that make us happy and when they stop making us happy, we stop loving them. Many of us have been hurt by this sort of love. Yet the love described in this passage is a love of a different kind; it’s the complete opposite! It’s a self-sacrificing love without condition. It’s a love that isn’t easily angered and delights in truth. It is an unfailing love that will never disappoint. It’s a redeeming love that will one day make all things right again. It’s the love that God offers us through salvation that this passage is talking about – not some flighty feeling.
My favorite verse in this section is vs. 13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.” I just love that.
If this Valentine’s Day you are struggling with being joyful in your life and you’re feeling especially unloved today... Know that there is a love that will never fail. Read through 1 Corinthians 13 and remind yourself of this truth. If you’re a Christian, this love directly applies and covers you. Rest in that truth and knowledge.
Today we don’t just celebrate the beauty of loving romantic relationships. We celebrate the love we have in Christ and the display of that love in our friendships and families.
To each and every one of you… Happy Valentine’s Day!