The word “love” is used often, and much of the time it is for good reason. I love my family/friends, I love to play sports, I love my girlfriend/boyfriend, I love this food, I love this smell, I love this setting. As humans, we LOVE many things. We love worldly objects, foods, and the way events or people make us feel.
Sometimes this feeling of love is taken away and we feel alone or in a drought. Exiting from a relationship of any form can feel empty, like you are unable to feel love. This is a worldly love that is being thirsted for. But let me tell you, earthly love, no matter how great, will dry you out. If I am super thirsty, will I look for a soda? Some will, but you will continue to feel this feeling of thirst. If you get water, this feeling of thirst will go away. Our love can work the same way. If we look to worldly things and people for love, we will never feel satisfied. Once looking to the Lord, we will be forever satisfied. Your thirst for love will NEVER be quenched through worldly pleasures.
Not only do some feel out of love and alone but others claim to not feel loved while in a relationship. According to dreammaker.com 20-25% of all couples in the world are truly “in love.” This means 75-80% of all couples do not feel love from their partner. Unfortunately, we live in a fast paced and upbeat world, and on top of this, there is sin, leading to hardship and people feeling out of love in a relationship. Due to the fast paced lives humans live, the next best thing is always being seeked out. So in a relationship revolving around the world why would we not expect for a couple to fall out of love? Soon this “next best thing” will no longer be your significant other, at this point the “in love” state of the relationship has passed.
How is our relationship of love with God supposed to look?
Marriage is a beautiful form of love, it is meant for the husband and wife to come together as one, becoming one person. Just as this we are called to be God’s wife. Yes, we (male and female) are called to be God’s wife. By this it means that He is not only supposed to be near us as a friend but in us and married to us. Ephesians 5:32-33 states, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife seethat she respects her husband.” Through this chapter of the bible the relationship between a wife and husband is explained, emphasizing the mutual respect, love, and submission shown. Husbands are called to love their wives, just as Jesus loved the church and wives are called to submit to their husbands as the church submits to the Lord. The Lord calls us to purely build a partnership with Him based on love and respect flowing both ways. The whole “bride of Christ” idea is made to symbolize our commitment to the Lord through a covenant relationship through marriage. This can be only shown through love, devotion, and faithfulness.
What does true love look like?
True love is shown in 1 Corinthians 13, as it can often be viewed as a chapter full of love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 states, “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.” Here love is described as patient, kind, and not arrogant, rude, envious, or boastful. Love is NOT based on temporary feelings or appearances, but instead it is based on a genuine and deep care for others. This is instead a love that forgives, heals, helps, and works through problems and adversity. True love is a sacrificial, selfless and forgiving love.
God exemplifies love, God shares love, God shows love, GOD IS LOVE. Throughout the entire bible God shows His love for humanity, starting with the creation of the world. The bible starts with the Lord creating us in His own image and calling us good. From here He goes on to show His love through His constant guidance and presence in our lives. He forgives, saves, answers our prayers, and offers us immense amounts of mercy. If this is not enough for you, the greatest form of love ever shown is God’s love in sending Jesus to die for our sins.
God's love is a love that will never fail. It is a gift to humanity and is constantly available for each and every one of us.
Do you struggle to love others selflessly? Do you struggle to receive selfless love from others? In reality, the answer to both of these questions is yes. The only way to offer selfless love to others is to beg for God’s guidance. So do it. Go to God and call on His name. He will share His love and help you share it with others. Don't look to the “next best thing” for love, look to the Lord, His love will forever be the best there is and you will no longer thirst for love.
This is our goal as Christians, to actively show God’s love to others. We will fall, stumble, and fail. But this is where we can call on the Lord. Look to God for sacrificial and selfless love, keep Him at the center of everything (including relationships) and the selfless and sacrificial love will begin to grow through you.
I figured this could be a good topic to ponder on considering the week it is. Happy Valentine's Day to each of you and I pray you all can feel God’s love for you in some form today! As always, reach out to me anytime with any comments or questions this may have brought about. Thank you for reading!
Picture credit from: (https://www.pexels.com/search/love/)
Beautifully done!
Love it! (See what I did there?!)