“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul” (Psalm 31:7).
Years ago I was convicted by the words of a single woman who did not have a ‘sweetheart‘ on Valentine’s day. She always felt alone, isolated and unloved as she watched those around her receive flowers and chocolate. I knew in my heart she wasn’t the only person who felt this way on the day of cupid’s cruel arrow. I had felt that loneliness for many years until I realized that there is a greater love, an eternal love that is not expressed with a mushy card, roses or heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolate.
God’s character is love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
God’s love is sacrificial.
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son Yeshua as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
God’s love is all-encompassing.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
God commands love.
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Messiah loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:1-2).
Our love comes from God.
“For love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).
The cherub archer’s bow and arrow does pierce the heart. The Roman-god Cupid fills the unsuspecting heart with transient passions of emotions that do not last. Just like the thrown away cards, the wilted flowers, and the empty candy boxes, the tender human heart easily becomes broken, crushed, and scarred.
God’s love is sacrificial, personal and eternal. He is the lover of our soul, our husband. His love takes the lonely, broken and tarnished heart and redeems it, refines it and gives it life – forever.
“For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:5).
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