February. A celebration of a history, a culmination (hopefully) of winter’s long season, and college basketball. The shortest month of the year with, for some, the busiest schedules and the longest lists of “to do.”
Then there’s the 14th, the day of Cupid’s arrow, hearts, flowers and chocolates. The day we put love on display in all its fabulous reds and pinks and, well, chocolates.
But in all our efforts to make love shine, nothing compares to the greatest love story ever – between God and His people. His people = you and me!
John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV) To me, this says God loved me so much that He gave of Himself. Jesus gave His very life so that you and I could know of true life, set free of sin. Now what box of chocolate is going to do that!
But we aren’t born knowing of and realizing God’s love for us. The journey of love generally is one long traveled, I would say! Sure, we soon realize that something we feel from mommy and daddy, but the path to love is truly a discovery.
In one of her devotionals, Bible teacher and speaker Joyce Meyer describes love’s journey in God this way: Living in God’s true love is a process. First, God loves us, and by faith, we receive His love. We then love ourselves in a balanced way, give love back to God, and learn to love other people. (Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life – A Daily Devotional)
God’s love is perfect. It is true, it is deep, it is pure and it is sure. It doesn’t change, and it’s not based on us. He chooses to love. And once we get to that realization, my oh my… Happy is the heart.
More on love next week, but in the meantime, check out John 3:16 again, and share in the comments below what God’s love has meant to you.
xoxo.
M E L C H E E 