January 2011
Friends,
In a couple of weeks, Valentine’s Day will be sprung upon us. You’ve already seen the pink and red splashed all over stores and on TV for a while now. Another chance to give gifts and eat candy. ☺ Some of us probably see it as a silly, insignificant holiday. For some, it’s pressure to show love to their spouse in an original way. For some it’s a sad day, a reminder of lost or failed love. For retailers, a chance to make money. But, like anything in this world, we can look like the rest of the world as we celebrate a cultural holiday, or we can use it as an opportunity to remind us to glorify our God and set ourselves apart as belonging to Him.
Love is defined many different ways in the dictionary: a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend; sexual passion; affectionate concern for the well-being of others; strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything. But the Bible (in 1 Corinthians 13) defines love as patient, kind, not envious, not boasting, not proud, not dishonoring, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeping no record of wrongs, never failing. The difference between the dictionary and the Bible is the expectation of self-sacrifice. The dictionary paints the image of a pleasant feeling that attracts you to someone. We love because it feels good. But the Bible challenges us to love even when it’s hard, when it requires us to forget what we want for the sake of someone else.
Over and over throughout the Bible God encourages us to sacrifice what we want in order to show love. In John 15:12-13 Jesus tells us: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Does this mean we should literally die for our friends? Not necessarily, most of us won’t ever be in a situation where we would have to make that kind of sacrifice. But it does mean we should be willing; and, not just to die physically, but die spiritually and emotionally to our wants. One morning, my husband woke up early and God told him to fast for the day and pray for various people in our lives that are hurting. A little later, God also told him to get up and cook us breakfast. He said, “But God, I’m supposed to be fasting today.” Exactly. So, God used that to teach us all a little more about what sacrifice looks like. The gift of breakfast was so much more precious because he had to cook it and watch us eat it while hungry. And not just any breakfast, but his all-time favorite breakfast of thick-cut bacon and cheesy eggs.
Maybe you are a rule-follower. Maybe you show love in limited ways because you allow the rules to guide you more than your heart. Many people operate in this way and aren’t even aware of it (I speak from personal experience). Galatians 5:14 says “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” It’s really that simple. Sometimes we have to consider the love we show versus the rule that might be bent or broken. I’m not saying it is necessarily good to break rules. But I am saying it’s good to consider whether following a rule will hurt someone or leave someone out in the process. You don’t even have to ignore rules, just be thoughtful about how you follow them. Galatians is a good book to study if you struggle with this. It explains how Christ came to fulfill the law. We in our humanness cannot live up to the law, and the law shows us our desperate need for a Savior. Galatians 3:23-25 – “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” Again, not permission to ignore the law, but a reminder to seek Christ to equip us for daily life.
The other type of love God commands us to show is love toward our enemies. Talk about self-sacrifice! In Luke 6:27-28 Jesus says “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Ouch. Who can do that? Certainly not us humans. But, if we have chosen to follow Jesus, His Spirit is in us, giving us the ability to do even this seemingly impossible thing. And, this is definitely different in a world of “do what’s best for you” and “do what feels right.” I’ve heard so many stories of hearts changed because someone chose to love an enemy rather than seek revenge or simply have nothing more to do with them. You may find that someone is not your enemy at all, but someone that’s been hurt just like you. People aren’t really our enemies anyway. Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Be angry at THAT enemy, not the person who wronged you.
God also expects us to love Him most and put Him at the center of our lives. This is for our good. He knows that if we love another person more than Him, they will fail us. People were never meant to fill the deep void of our hearts or to make us content. Only He can do that. And only He will never fail us. In Matthew 22:37 Jesus reminds us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” If we do this, He will show us how to see people more like He does and, as a result, love them better. If your spouse or your children hold more of your heart than God does, you are doing them a disservice. They can never fulfill you and will disappoint you, and it’s unfair to expect them to do otherwise. Just like it’s unfair for them to expect you to take the place of God in their lives. You are not responsible for anyone else’s happiness. Ask God to help you love Him more. Psalm 13:5-6 – “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.”
So, on this Valentine’s Day, I challenge you to show love in ways that defy the nature of this fallen world. Show your children how to be different by letting them see you love someone that is hard to love. Show them how to love God above everyone and everything else, even them.
Please join us if you can on Feb 5 for a ladies night where we celebrate God being first in our lives. Several women will share their story of redemption and love. A light dinner and dessert will be served. We’d love to see as many of you as possible. See the attached flyer for details.
Love well, friends,
Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”