Love
February is often a month when we reflect on love and those
whom we love. I recently came across a quote by author Stephen
King. He said, "Even when love isn't enough…somehow it
is."
It’s a powerful quote and there is a lot of truth to it.
That got me thinking about love and the role it’s played in
my life.
In First Grade I loved Tommy Eisel (he was my first crush, but it would have been my husband, if I had known him). I love cake. I love hiking, running, biking, and camping. In college, I loved to drink and party.
But it wasn’t until I met Jesus Christ that I really came to know what love is.
God is the author of love. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love
because He first loved us,” so it’s only fitting that He should be the one to
define it and He did, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it
does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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.
Love is a choice and as you can tell from this scripture, it
is a tall order. It’s a choice that is
not to be taken lightly.
God took this definition and wrapped it up in the person we
know as Jesus Christ who emulated it on the earth for us.
This isn’t a love as the world defines it that is fleeting
and is here one minute and gone the next and it isn’t a love based on
feeling. Feelings can be deceiving and
ebb and flow like the tides.
It’s not the Hollywood kind of love with its never-ending
cycle of break-ups and make-ups.
It’s
not pizza love, or hiking love, or first crush love.
It is lasting love, never give up love, never leave or
forsake love.
God loves each one of us with a love that is indescribable,
unfathomable, deeper, wider, richer, and with an intensity that we will never
experience from another person on this earth.
We have an enormous capacity to
love, but even at our best we will fall short of God’s love for us.
This Valentine's Day, I encourage you to receive the greatest gift ever given that won't melt like chocolate or wilt like roses - the everlasting love of your Heavenly Father.
By Shannon M. Nass
