Valentines Day, Feb 14th gave me cause to consider what is love? The dictionary describes “Love” as follows. “An intense feeling of deep affection or fondness for a person or thing. So I tried to find how Valentine’s Day began and that became a bit convoluted. It seems the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church and a couple of poets by the name of Chaucer and Shakespeare got involved which then turned it into a commercial opportunity and that’s where we are today. In all the history there is woven a thread of “love” throughout the information which, of course, brings us to today.
I thought it reasonable to talk about the love subject but from a Christian perspective. As Christians we understand that Love comes from God and Jesus’ death on the cross was precipitated by Love for Mankind. So our celebration of Valentines needs to put the Love of God first in our lives. However, many times in the scripture love for our fellow man is taught.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Clearly a love beyond comprehension expressed through the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Of course John 3:16 is the best example of God’s love and I don’t even need to quote it. God’s love for His children is also clearly spelled out in
1 John 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not. because it knew him not.
The Love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win His erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin.
Chorus O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure — The saints’ and angels’ song.
In addition God and Jesus tell us that we are to love one another.
John 13:34 & 35
A new commandment I give unto you That ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
There is another song that speaks to this that I really love.
Loving God, loving each other Making music with my friends Loving God, loving each other And the music never ends
They pushed back from the table To listen to His words His secret plan before He had to go It’s not complicated Don’t need a lot of rules This is all you’ll need to know
Loving God, loving each other Making music with my friends Loving God, loving each other And the music never ends
We tend to make it harder Build steeples out of stone Fill with explanations of The Way But if we’d stop and listen And break a little bread We would hear the Master say
Loving God, loving each other Making music with my friends Loving God, loving each other And the music never ends
We enjoyed another Hymn sing on Sunday evening which speaks of the joy of loving God and loving each other. Our numbers were down slightly but still the Hymns of joy and time of fellowship I think speaks to the love of Christians for God and for each other. Let’s remember this Valentines and all the year through our love should be to God our Father, and Jesus His son and then for one another.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (Love).
