Love is....

As we approach Valentine's Day I have been thinking a lot about love and its meaning. I remember the day I KNEW I was "in love" with my husband before we were married. It was knowing that this was the man who accepted me - regardless of my past and my baggage. We married a short 9 months after our first date and at our wedding we had the "Love Chapter" read, 1 Corinthians 13, for those who may not be familiar. What this specific chapter clarifies is that love is not about feeling, emotion, or stuff - No, true love is action. Specifically verses 4-8(a) tells us what love truly is, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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. LOVE NEVER FAILS. (emphasis added)." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV.

My hubby and I. 2017

Now, as a believer and follower of Christ, I know that I fail in the department of this kind of love - DAILY! Why? Because I'm still flesh and struggle to completely make my flesh slave to the way of Christ. He also allows me to decided whether I want to be be patient, kind, humble, gentle, forgiving and the like. The Bible tells us, "God is love" (1John 4:8 & 16), which means He is all of those things expressed in the love chapter and so much more. Some reading this may say, "If God loves me, why did I get the virus/cancer/diabetes?" or "Why is there so much suffering in the world?". Maybe the narrative is, "I have prayed for healing and I'm still sick" or "I am working in ministry and it seems everything goes wrong". Those moments when we are in the midst of suffering and dont understand why is when we may wonder where this love of God is. Paul writes in Romans, "all things work for the good of those who love God". (8:28) I have had plenty of things happen in my life, both before and after accepting Christ, where I have questioned His love for me.

Evan Almighty, 2007. Popsugar

In the movie, Evan Almighty, there is a scene where Evan's wife, Joan, finds out that Evan is doing what God has asked of him - build an ark during a drought. Joan, questions the validity of Evan's claim as well as his sanity. She leaves Evan, taking their children with her and as she drives away, Evan poignantly says to the air, "I know, I know. Everything you do, you do because you love me. (A sprinkler blasts him in the face) Do me a favor; love me less!" That is something I know I can relate to and you probably can too. Currently we are all in the midst of a trying season where we may wonder where God's love is. I think we may sometimes forget that when we say "yes" to Christ that doesnt mean life will come without trying times and difficulties, making us wonder where love is. Well love is with us, within us, it is us because we are God's agent of love! Let's go back to 1 Corinthians 13...love is patient, kind, gentle, slow to anger and so on. Now put your name in the place of the word LOVE. So it would look something like this, "Amy is patient, Amy is kind. Amy does not envy" - You get the picture. I am the extension of Christ's love to the believer and non-believer alike and although the questions we ask my be valid, we must also understand that this world is only a shadow of the original creation.

God's love is so great that He allows us to decided whether we are going to hand love out in the way man wants or in the way He wants. Adam and Eve's disobedience corrupted the perfection of God's creation because, again, we are allowed to decide. The ability to have free will and decide how I love on a daily basis will also be a reflection of how I represent my Savior, my King, my Father. So, as you enter into this weekend with thoughts of the warm and fuzzy type of love (aros). Can you also love as Paul asked the Corinthians to? Can you love as God would? Because as my most favorite part of the love chapter says, "It (speaking of love) always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" 1 Corinthians 13:7 & 8(a) - Especially God's love, it will never fail.

Happy Valentine's Day and

Warrior On!

"Evan Almighty Quotes."Quotes.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 12 Feb. 2021. <https://www.quotes.net/mquote/113028>.