Happy Valentine’s Day!
I can remember growing up and listening to Tina Turner’s sing, “What’s love got to do—got to do with it? What’s love but a second hand emotion?” In high school, love was a second hand emotion. Here today and gone tomorrow. While love is a delicate emotion, most handled it without proper care. It was given and taken, used and abused, and for some…it was not offered at all. Day’s like today almost seem to spotlight those who feel unloved and alone.
This type of experience can make a person doubt love for the rest of their lives—even the love of God. Their attitude seems to shout, “What’s love got to do with it?” As if they could survive without it. None of us can. We were created to be loved.
In fact, love has everything to do with it. God so loved you and me that He sent His son to die in our place so that we could have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Love is the greatest gift God has to offer you and me. And He doesn’t just offer it on Valentine’s Day. It’s ours to receive each and every day.
Yet some resist God’s love. Because of their past they have a hard time believing that God loves them. Nothing is further from the truth! Paul confirms this when he wrote, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Some have the wrong view of God’s love. They believe that have to do something to earn His love. While others fear they can loss God’s love. Neither is true. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love. He offers it freely and unconditionally. Even when we sin, God is ready to offer us grace and forgiveness if we will turn back to Him. That’s love at its best!
If we will let it, God’s love will transforms our lives. Instead of being self-focused, be God focused. Watch for His activity of love and grace at work in your life. Note His answered prayers and the ways He lovingly cares for you and your needs. These expressions of love are able to fill all hearts until all our hurts are healed. But most time they go unnoticed because you and I are looking at our problems instead of God’s provisions.
When you and I finally understand that God’s love has everything to do with us, then we begin to recognize that His love is true and reliable. It has no end. It’s incomprehensible, but it’s real and able to fill up all our empty places. When that happens and we are made whole, every thing thereafter has to do with love…every person we meet, every word spoken, every act we do…all because the love of God fills our hearts today and always.
May you be blessed with the gift of God’s love today.
Digging for Pearls says
How precious it is to be loved by the Father! 🙂
Laura says
He is our true Bridegroom!
Angela @ Refresh My Soul Blog says
Amen! Very well said my friend.
Much love,
Angela