You Call That Love?

As Valentine's Day approaches, I am tempted to feel bad about myself. All those people with someone special. All I do on Valentine's Day is sit home and watch History Channel. But then perspective comes in. A relationship at my stage of life is pointless. I'm fine with where I am. It's just society's pressures that are making me feel inadequate. Then again, what exactly is society pressuring me to do? To love? Oh, is that what you call that? I thought that was fuzzy feelings or lust. Either one will do. My point is this: the world doesn't know what love is. Christians say, "That's easy. God is love!" Yadda yadda. What does that REALLY mean? We often spout random cliches just to avoid actual meaning.

God is true and endless love. And this isn't just fuzzy feelings or vague sense of affection. No. This is real, intimate and personal. Love has to have an object. We are that object. The reason we know this is because He proved it to us. There on the cross, Christ showed us true love. Love is sacrificial. That is the thing that the world doesn't understand. They don't understand that true love waits for sex because that's sacrifice. It's a sacrifice to protect something of value. The world doesn't understand that you still have to love your spouse when those fuzzy feelings go away. You don't get to leave or give up when you get bored. This is the love that the world teaches us!

Christ says that, "if you love me, you will keep my commandments." This is another key aspect of Biblical love. Biblical love isn't based on feelings or lust. It's based on action and commitment. If someone truly loves you, they will show it and not merely say it. It's like the example of Caleb's daughter. Caleb made the young men of Israel an offer. His daughter Acsah in return for the capture of the Canaanite city of Kiriath Sepher. Othniel took Caleb up on that offer. Othniel trusted the Lord and furthered His kingdom by defeating the giants in the land. This was a powerful demonstration of love. He laid his life on the line for her. It's like every fantasy story. The hero has to face the dragon and slay it. He has to go through his darkest hour for her, because he knows she's worth it.

Yes, God is love. But God isn't the kind of love that the world knows. It's beyond their comprehension. The love of the Lord is deep, personal, sacrificial, and most of all, unmerited.

God Bless,

Stanley