REAL LOVE

This décor plaque at a local store reminded me of

Ephesians 3:18 and our relationship with God

Oh, the stories associated with Valentine’s Day. Nobody knows for sure who was the original St. Valentine, though the name (from words for bravery or “valor”) connects well with one ancient priest’s bold decision to marry couples to help the bridegroom escape military service. Some histories mention fertility festivals of old. No record exists of romantic celebrations on Valentine’s Day until a 1375 poem by Chaucer which linked courtly love with St. Valentine’s feast day. In that poem, Feb. 14 is the day birds and humans find mates.

Today the holiday seems to have overrated human (and passion-oriented) love. Oh, that instead of “Roses are red-etc.” we’d focus on this as a theme verse:

 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

Being truly related to the God of all creation is knowing true love. Seeing the cross on which Jesus died as a personal payment for my sinful condition is embracing true love.  Living for Jesus “in all that I do” (to quote an old hymn) is living out true love. Waiting for true love—a God-fearing spouse, not a flimsy substitute because nobody else came along—is trusting the God who loves us more than we can realize.

Several years ago my church was pastored by a man (and wife) whose three daughters and son set the bar high for “good kids.” After they left, we kept in touch via mail, pleased to hear of their social skills, academics, implicit trust in Jesus, servant hearts, and, most of all, a God-focused present and future. His kids are awesome! With two older daughters now  in college, the third one finishing high school, they're approaching the years when young men take notice of them. I am thinking, “Are there men out there worthy of these outstanding young women?”

Recently the dad wrote a book about the seven letters to ancient churches that open the book of Revelation. Those churches had a common problem: failing to live 100% for Christ. Many were okay with compromising their values so they’d fit in better with their community. We’re not any different if our pastors compromise the Gospel to a “Jesus can be your Best Friend” message, sidestepping Scripture’s command to “take up your cross and die” (Mark 8:34).

This book is titled Seven Words: How the Seven Letters of Revelation Speak to Us Today (XulonPress), and in it Pastor Joshua Brooks (dad of those awesome kids!) shared another author’s hypothetical illustration of a dad looking for a husband for his daughter. Would he “make it happen” by advertising her in newspapers (or even a love site on the internet), putting up a billboard, or passing out tee-shirts begging someone to choose her?  Absolutely not. This would cheapen his precious daughter. The man worthy of his daughter would have to be prepared to offer her his absolute best.

And so it is for us. First and foremost must come our love relationship with God. John wrote in the same passage: “Everyone who has this hope [of someday seeing the risen Christ, v. 2] purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). That connects right into the idea of being “rooted” in Christ, and growing in love and devotion to Him:

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18).

That’s real love, far greater than the “valentine” clichés.