It's Everywhere

It’s the week that the word seems to pop up everywhere! It’s all over the card aisles, the candy section, and the flower shop. Everything seems focused on LOVE. The Valentine’s Day celebration of love will happen in so many ways: from candy shared between school children to special dinners and dates celebrating years of affection. While all that is fun, here’s the problem: at its core, love is sacrificial, and that does not make for as pleasant of a greeting card. 

The One who is love Himself reminds us that,

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
1 Corinthians 13:7

If we’re honest, isn’t that the most captivating expression of love? Our feelings might get stirred at the next great romantic love story, but what truly draws us in are the demonstrations of self-sacrifice. We see it in the spouse caring for the aging love of his life who no longer remembers his name. We see it when two people at the brink of giving up decide to fight for each other instead of against each other. We see it in small, selfless acts that might never get noticed. I think we’re so captivated by that kind of love because it stirs in us a reminder of who God really is, and how He loves! 

One of my favorite books, The Jesus Storybook Bible, captures it this way: “Jesus was showing people that God would always love them—with a never-stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love”. That is some really good news.

So this week, every time you see or hear that word L-O-V-E, let it remind you that you are loved in the most breathtaking kind of way!