February and Valentine’s Day makes us think of love.  But is love all about hearts and romance?  I would have to say yes, it is.  However, probably not what you’re thinking and certainly not what the world would have us to think.  The world would have us to believe that love is this mushy feeling that we have when we meet someone special.  That may be part of it but it’s only the beginning.  Love is so much more than a feeling.  Love endures even when that excitement has gone away or is buried deep beneath life’s pain and scars.   So what exactly is love?
 Love is a promise -
The story of God’s romance with us begins in the book of Genesis.  God created Adam and Eve.  He loved them. He walked and talked with them every day.  And then, you know the story . . . they ate of the forbidden fruit and the world was cursed and God threw them out of the garden. But first He made them a promise. Speaking to the serpent He said,  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15  Her seed is Jesus Christ.  The savior was promised from the very beginning of mans’ curse. 
 Love is sacrifice -
The first mention of love in the bible is a story of sacrifice.  God said to Abraham,  “ Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”  Genesis 22:2
Thankfully the story didn’t end there.  God provided a ram to take Isaac’s place on the altar.  The account found in Genesis 22 is a beautiful picture of what God had planned for the future.  He loved us so much that gave His own Son to pay for our sins.
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. John 3:16
 Love is commitment  -
There were approximately 4,000 years of history from creation to crucifixion.  And in that time, mankind forsook God time and time again. Yet knowing man’s heart and his inclination to wander far from God’s ways, Jesus still came. Knowing the ridicule and humility he would face here on earth, knowing the pain and suffering he would endure on the cross, he still came.  Because he was completely devoted to us.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8 NKJV
 Love is selflessness – 
There are many things that I can say about love, but for the sake of time I will give just one more point to sum it up.  Love has little concern of its own interest but is thinking continually of others. Love at its very best is completely and utterly unselfish. It is clearly defined in 1 Corinthians 13 -
  
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, it is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7


by Karen W from Ellie Marie Designs

Comments (7)

On February 4, 2013 at 10:01 AM , Jan said...

There is a song out that is titled "I Want Love Like That".
Goes along with the Monday devotional. Great devotional.
I do want to add just one more thing, when we seek to Love like
Christ, our heart will and does respond like His heart would. The fruit of the Spirit is expressed in His Love. His Love has the blueprint that we need in our heart.
I journal everyday, and each year I ask God to give me a title for the year to work on. Well the title for 2012 was: Let me Love like You! This year 2013 "More of Your Love".

 
On February 4, 2013 at 10:23 AM , Handiworkin' Girls said...

Beautiful thoughts, Karen. It's easy to forget how much deeper true love goes than flowers and candy, especially this time of year (nothing against chocolate, though!).

 
On February 4, 2013 at 10:46 AM , MYSAVIOR said...

I am swooning over the love of our Lord and how it makes me feel.
This is such a beautiful and meaningful post.

♥♥♥
Sue

 
On February 4, 2013 at 3:41 PM , Anonymous said...

a timely reminder

 
On February 4, 2013 at 3:56 PM , Sue Runyon said...

" Love has little concern of its own interest but is thinking continually of others. "

Nicely said. Thanks so much, Karen and welcome to the Monday Devotion team :-)

 
On February 5, 2013 at 10:41 AM , sammysgrammy said...

So appropriate - in this month of what the world calls "love"

 
On February 9, 2013 at 8:33 AM , krafterskorner said...

Amen!