Happy Valentine’s Day! 2022

 

Hollywood portrays many movies as perfect lover stories. Songs are written describing the breadth and depth of love. And the audience eats it up and often tires to mimic in their personal lives what they heard in the song or saw in the movie. But in real life, the actors and singers don’t resemble anything of their trade. Their undying love lasts only so long as the relation is fun and doesn’t have any downsides or until the next pretty face crosses their path. These are not good examples for us.

 

But true love is demonstrated by the one Triune God (1 John 4:8), the God of the Bible. If it we’re possible to sum God up in one word, that word would be Love (John 3:16).

Throughout the Bible, God often tells of His love for us. He tells of His willingness to forgive us (Is 1:18) and even provided His Son, Jesus, (2 Cor 9:15) to pay the mandatory price of death (Heb 9:22) for the rebellion (sin) that everyone in the world has committed (Rom 3:23).

 

In God’s Word, His relationship with us is often compared to a marriage between a man and a woman. God/Jesus is the groom and we are the bride (Rev 19:7). It’s not a polygamy or gay thing; it’s an example. We’re not perfect, but God is and as the family head, He never makes mistakes (Dt 32:4, Mt 5:48). But in what He does, His actions, He show His love to His bride; us. He loves her/us unconditionally (Jr 31:3, Rom 8:35, Rom 8:38-39)

 

He is ecstatic over His bride (Ezk 16:8-14) and will always be faithful (Lam 3:22-23). He always rescues/redeems His wife (Ps 107:28, Eph 1:7, Rev 5:9). He always pays the debt that she incurs and will pay anything to get her back if she leaves Him. He also tells what is expected of His bride; the Ten commandments and so forth).

 

God has provided the example for us men (Eph 5:25) to follow as the head of the family. It’s an example that no man can never attain but he is to try. The woman also has a lot to live up to (Eph 5:22). Both sexes are to have traits of the only living God but the two main ones are ‘commitment’ and ‘forgiveness’. Throughout the Bible, God always shows His commitment to us and nearly countless times forgives us (Is 1:18, Ps 103:12, 1 Pet 4:8, Heb 8:12). That is Love.

 

The same should be in our marriages; commitment and forgiveness. Commitment (2 Tim 2:13) that everything will be done to keep the relationship intact, intact doesn’t just mean tolerable but desirable. And just as God has forgiven us for a multitude of sins (Deut 4:31), a man and a woman in a marriage should forgive each other. And He tells us about loving each other outside of marriage (Jn 13:34, 1 Cor 13:4-8).  He even tells us that above all of our possible actions, love is the greatest (1 Cor 13:13).

 

God never leaves us (Ps 27:10). If there is a problem in our relationship with Him, it is because we have walked away from Him (Is 59:2). But He is always near; always ready to forgive and take us back (Is 55:7). ALWAYS! (Lam 3:22, Ezk 18:32)!!!.

 

In a marriage, a man and a woman take a vow to love each other until death parts them. However, all too often, we fail to keep that promise and not stay married until death part us. In our next life, we have an opportunity to ‘stay married’ and live for eternity with God (Hos 2:19), or to not be married to the bridegroom, Jesus, and spend eternity in Hell (Jn 3:18, 2 Thes 1:9).

 

Nothing on Earth can separate you from God’s love (Rom 8:35, Rom 8:38-39). But it’s your choice. He paid the dowry (Is 61:10) and the price of our redemption (Rom 5:8). God has proposed to every one of us (Ps 27:10, Rev 22:17, Rev 3:20). What is your answer; what is your choice (Mt 25:46)?

 

Happy Valentine's Day, God Bless

and share some love.

 

 

*Note* - For a little animal love, head over to my ‘Wilds’ page. Birds are paring up and some have already laid eggs and a few have hatched.
*2nd Note* – Be proud of me. I didn’t hang on that Eph 5:22 verse. But I really wanted to!