Happy Valentines Day

There are so many verses about the "heart" of Valentine's Day, which is L-O-V-E!

Probably the most well known and one of the best Bible verses on love is John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

God is Love

1 John 4:8 - "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

1 John 4:16 - "We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

God's Love Described

1 Corinthians 13 is typically called "The Love Chapter" because it describes love; verses 4-8 say - "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;"  Verse 13 continues - "But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Jeremiah 31:3 says God loves with a never ending love - "The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness."

Why we can love

Matthew 22:37-40 records when Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the greatest - "He replied And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Luke 10:27 records the same - "He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

How we should love

1 Corinthians 16:14 - "Let all that you do be done in love."

1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins."

John 13:34 - Jesus tells us to love others like He has loved us:  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

John 13:35 - Jesus goes on to say that when we love each other as His followers, all men (both other believers and unbelievers will see & recognize:   "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Take the time to share God’s love today and every day.

Dear Lord, we thank You for Your great love. Help us to show it to those You bring into our life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen

Expectations for Valentine’s Day

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

There are a lot of expectations for Valentine’s Day. Someone, probably a Hallmark employee, decided that February 14th would be the day to declare and demonstrate your love to that special someone. Cards, flowers, and chocolates caught on quickly and became a near requirement even for preschool children. But what gets lost in finding the perfect card or gift is the very essence of what love is and how we can best share that with those around us.

I Corinthians 13 is the famous biblical love chapter in Christian circles and beyond. It’s beautiful because it describes the kind of perfect love that God has for us and through him we are able to love our spouses, children, extended family, co-workers, and neighbors this same way. It’s an active love; a love that is more committed to that person than our own feelings at the time. Gift giving isn’t even mentioned because this love, God’s perfect love, is worth so much more than anything money could ever buy.

Sometimes a gift is a hit and sometimes it’s a miss. In any case, as either the giver or recipient, let’s not fool ourselves into thinking the gift is the sum of how much we love or are loved. We can enjoy Valentine’s Day as a good excuse to spoil the ones we love and share God’s love in a special way with those who are lonely and hurting. But let’s stay focused: no material thing or sentimental card can ever replace the simple gestures of God’s love expressed every day. 

Dear Lord,  we ask that You would show us practical ways to demonstrate Your perfect love to others on a daily basis.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Ultimate Valentine

John 3:16 (ESV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

This Valentine’s Day, remember that love is so much more than flowers and candy and cards.  It is even more than the deepest feelings you experience, because real love is expressed by unconditional commitment and unwavering dedication to our loved ones—which should be everyone!

That’s why God didn’t spend billions of dollars on us, He sacrificed His priceless Child.

He didn’t send us flowers, but He allowed a crown of thorns to be put on Jesus’ brow.

He didn’t send us a card, but He demonstrated the ultimate Valentine:

John 3:16 - The Ultimate Valentine

Let’s make every day a “Valentine’s Day” because God so loved the world, so should we.  Picture yourself as God’s living Valentine to a world that desperately needs to know what love is truly all about.

Dear Lord, we thank You for the greatest Valentine we could ever have received. Help us to share that same love with the world around us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Happy Valentine's Day

1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

On Valentine’s Day isn’t it fun to dig through a bag of those little candy hearts that have the words printed on them? They say cute little things like “SWEET”, “CUTE”, “HUG ME” or “I LOVE YOU”.   As we think about love this Valentine’s Day let’s not focus on the love printed on the candy hearts but instead let’s take a look at three things Paul tells us about real Love found in our verses today.

1. REAL LOVE DOES THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS:

When I was younger I use to watch the TV show “Leave it to Beaver”. Do you remember the character Eddie Haskell? He’d act one way around grown-up and totally different around Wally and the Beaver! That’s called being two-faced or a hypocrite. Paul says real love does things from a pure motive and to do otherwise profits nothing! (Verses 1-3)

2. REAL LOVE HAS CERTAIN ATTRIBUTES:

Growing up in Michigan we’d say let’s go get a “coke” which could be anything cold and wet! Coke was a generic name for any kind of soda pop the local store had in stock! But the Coca-Cola company spends millions of $$$ to let us know that “Coke” is the real thing ®, “Coke is it!” Paul says real love has certain unmistakable qualities. (Verses 4-8a)

3. REAL LOVE STANDS THE TEST OF TIME:

Paul concludes this wonderful chapter on love in verse 13 by saying that in the end there are three essential things that will matter – FAITH, HOPE and LOVE and the greatest of these is real love! I want you to know that God’s love for us is a love that endures, He always stands ready to forgive and to pardon if we will only turn to Him is trust and repentance. He only asks that we love Him enough to obey His salvation plan. If you haven’t experienced the real love of God why not take that step today?  His love will never fade away.

Dear Lord, we thank You for showing Your love to us. We pray today that we would share that love with those me meet today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I Corinthians 13 - Valentine's Day

Isaiah 43:1 (New International Version)

But now, this is what the LORD says—

   he who created you, Jacob,

   he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

On Valentine’s Day isn’t it fun to dig through a bag of those little candy hearts that have the words printed on them? They say cute little things like “SWEET”, “CUTE” or “HUG ME”. But the one that I like the best says, “YOU ARE MINE!” In honor of the one I call “Mine” I want to share a paraphrase of I Corinthians 13 (the love chapter)

If I teach Sunday school classes, volunteer for the student ministry but do not love my wife, I am only as a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have a college degree, high-paying job, and successful career, but do not love my wife, I am emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.  If I have faith so I can move mountains,  am quick to pray for those in need, and even have half the Bible   memorized,  but do not love my wife, I am disobedient and do not please God.  If I help keep a spotless house, maintain a well-manicured lawn, and supply nutritionally balanced meals for my family,  but do not love my wife, it is all for naught. Hired hands can do as much.

Lord, help me to be patient.  Help me to be kind.  I pray that I will not envy those who have seemingly more than us.   I pray that  I will  never  try to  lift  myself up  by putting my wife down.  Lord, I pray that I will not be a proud man  who  refuses to  listen  to  his wife, who always has to have  the last word,  who always thinks his  way is best.   I pray that I will not be rude to my wife with curt comments, disregard her needs, or be ungrateful for all she does and is, but treat her with respect and honor that the Queen of the castle deserves.

I pray that I  will not be self- serving,  always thinking about what is best for me,  but thinking of what would be  best  for  my  wife.   I  pray  that  I  will  not  be angered easily,  not  hold a  grudge,  keep a  record  of wrongs,  not plan  ways to  retaliate,  and not use  my tongue as  a  weapon to cause pain.   I  pray that I will not  rejoice  and  say "I told you so" when  things don't work  out  the  way  my  wife  hoped.

Lord, above all, I pray that my wife will see me as her chief supporter who desires to rejoice with her in her victories, both big and small. That she will see me as the one who longs to protect her and our marriage and our love.   Help me create a warm and loving environment in which she feels safe, wanted, and revered.   I pray that you will give me endurance when things get tough.  Lord,   I know that love never fails and that You never fail.  Fill  me with  Your Holy  Spirit  and  give  me  the  endurance  to  stand  under  trials and  love  my wife no matter the circumstances, as you would have me  love  her  --  till  death  us  do  part!

 

Dear Lord we pray today for those that You have given us to love. We pray that we would love them with the Love that You have designed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.