Admittedly, I have always been a bit cynical when it comes
to Valentine's Day. Honestly considering that I have been single for what seems
like light years, probably has not helped the matter.
I tease.. I tease.
However, on the real, when I was younger I would call it VD Day (
heh heh). Nowadays I don’t understand
why a specific day is needed to show love, when we are called to show it
24/7/365. I guess it goes along with a lot of the other holidays as it is more
so a commercial extravaganza in which merchandisers make tons of cheddar (
estimated
$19 billion in 2016) on yummy treats and novelty memorabilia which
proclaims your love for said receiver.
History.com
has an interesting backstory behind the date (traditions and whatnot) should
you care to take a gander. When I see the number $19 billion, I cannot help but
imagine on how many people that could help in the world.. hand me $19 billion
and I will be like Oprah, except instead of goods I will be giving EVERYSPACE a
homeless shelter (lottery goals).
However, let me bring it back to the topic I intended to
write on (since I myself participate in the festivities at work, and with
family/friends so, you know) … What
is love all about?
Well the Bible is pretty clear cut about it, that in order
to know love – you must know God (
1 John 4:8).
Too often we (as a human nation) get caught up thinking that
LOVE
is LUST, which despite what mainstream radio or television may tell you, is
NOT the case.
The Bible is so comprehensive it even tells us the
characteristics of Love as such:
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.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
And we can put a big bold underlined, italicized on John
3:16 as the most outstanding act of love ever and forever, “For God so loved
the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life.”
Should you be lacking more information or motivation about
LOVE from the Bible, here are
86 more
verses you can entertain in your brain. But
to sum it all up, God is love and true love is awesome, so therefore God is
awesome.
Seek
to be that awesome, each and every day (
John 15:12).
P/S
We got out own little taste of awesome love on Sunday with a
Valetine’s surprise, thanks to some amazing students at the
Lanier Career Academy who made us all
cards and candy bags (100% chocolate contents, too). We are all very thankful
and grateful for their efforts and thoughts.
J
Please know that I thank each and every one of you who read this blog (past, present and future). May you draw closer to the Creator with each and every day, and seek to carry out His will for your life, and be ready to always share the message of hope through Jesus Christ with others.