(image courtesy of Jason Graham)
Happy Valentine's Day! I couldn't wait to start today as I thought about Valentines Day. Chocolates, red roses, flowers jewelry -- are some of the things that will given to express love today. For years, writers, poets and psalmists have made it a point to define, portray and share love. Today, I'd like to share a few thoughts on love; but first and foremost I want to wish my wife Jami, my girls--Jacelyn, Tiana and Adonhyah a Happy Valentines Day.
How do we define love? How SHOULD we define love? I would dare to say that if seven people were asked to define love, we would likely get seven different definitions, or better stated--seven perspectives of love. That's not a good or bad thing, it is- what it is. I believe love has already been defined and demonstrated for all of mankind. Where? In the Bible. This blog isn't intended to be an online Bible study, BUT I certainly want to cite the Bible as the best source and absolute STANDARD for defining love. Not to be dogmatic in approach, I believe that over time man has diminished the absolute meaning of love in our attempt to define it as WE see it. That said, the below bullets illustrate from a biblical point of view, what love is and is not to ME.
1. Jesus is Love (see I John 4:16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
2. Real love is demonstrated through great sacrifice - Love is first given, then received. Scripture tells us this in:
- (John 5:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
3. Real love goes beyond what we say, it's what we do and how we live.
- (I John 4:7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
- * In reading I John 4:7 I would question if anyone can express "real" love apart from God. I know that sounds harsh, but even fools gold has a luster and glass diamonds a sparkle--but their value is far from the genuine items they imitate.
4. Contrary to the modern-day philosophical statement "Love hurts", REAL Love heals. I believe misconstruing lust for love and broken promises lead to broken hearts (think about that one for a minute). Lust of the flesh distorts the purity of love and beauty of marriage. From Genesis to Revelation the word love and or a variant of this word appears 558 times and NOT ONCE does it demonstrate hurt or pain (aside from the pain Jesus suffered on the cross as a result of His love for us).
I could go on and on but I'll stop here. My hope is that someone browsing will read this and be drawn closer to Christ; and that this might be an encouragement to a couple, a family a young man or young lady. Enjoy the day and tell someone you love them.
In love & truth, Quentin
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