Valentine's Day.... a day set aside for love and romance. The Bible is just brimming with love stories. In fact, the Bible IS a love story. The best kind of love. The love of the Holy God of the universe that would sacrifice his only Son so that sin saturated people like myself can be made clean and pure and presentable to Himself. Yes, that is the very best kind of love story.
There are some verses in the Bible that are often read at weddings. First Corinthians chapter 13, verses 4 through 8 for instance. They are just perfect to reflect on as a man and woman begin their life together. They hold so much wisdom to help a couple/family through the good times and bad. They have that warm, lovey dovey feel to them that suits a wedding ceremony, but as I read them I see them reaching far beyond the romantic love relationship. I see them as needing to apply to every day occurrences. Let's take a look:
Verse four "Love is patient; love is kind." - Now absolutely we need to be patient and kind to our Valentine sweetie. But this verse needs to be applied to that disgruntled Wal-Mart clerk that simply shrugs his shoulders when you ask him where you can find the tapioca. How quick are we to storm off in a huff belittling this young man and spouting off "Back in MY day the customer was the priority." references. Do you think that Paul was speaking to us about being patient and kind to that person? Absolutely he was.
Verse four continues on with "Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited."- Again, easily applied to the person that you share your life with. But it is essential in your day to day life with neighbors, friends and coworkers. It reminds us to keep our envy in check when our coworker achieves something that maybe we thought we deserved. Or, on the other hand, to accept our achievements humbly. Sometimes the way we succeed speaks far louder to others than the way we loose. We would do well to remember that it wasn't on our own merits we have succeeded, but only by God's grace.
Verse 5 - "[Love] does not act improperly; is not selfish;" - Love does not have road rage. Love does not stand in front of a young girl who has a candy bar and a bottle of pop with its grocery cart overflowing with a months worth of groceries. Love does not gossip. Love shovels your neighbors drive after a snowstorm. When we have an investment in someone, we find it easy to think of them in unselfish terms, but when it is a stranger, maybe even someone we have never even come face to face with, we are admonished to not be selfish with our time or our material blessings.
Verse 5b - 6 - "[Love] is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth;" - It is easy to keep the peace and forgive and forget when it is someone that lives in the same home with you. But what about the neighbor who continually lets his dog out to do his business in your yard? Love does not gossip. (didn't I just say that earlier? Hmm....) Why are magazines like the National Enquirer or People so popular? Because we like to see others broken-ness, their failures. This is in complete contradiction to this verse. We should find no joy in unrighteousness. Brittany Spears fall from her self-made pedestal should not be considered entertainment for us. It should break our hearts.
Finally verses 7-8 "[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" - Love has big shoulders. Love, with God's wisdom, sees the best in everyone. Love, knowing that with God all things are possible, hopes and waits through the very worst of times for the victory. And the icing on the Valentine Cake is the love of God will never end. His love is full of grace and mercy and will last an eternity. It is ours forever if we will only accept it.
Happy Valentines Day to all of you and your sweethearts!!
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