Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day with reds and pinks? Because hearts are red?
"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13)
Red stands for blood. Blood that was shed for us, blood that was drawn by a crown of thorns, and nails driven through a pair of holy hands and holy feet.
"We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
Love is not roses and chocolate and candlelit dinners. Love is not hearts cut out of red construction paper and little candies with sweet messages imprinted on them. These things--these material things--are used to symbolize our love for each other, and there's nothing wrong with that, but lately it seems they have taken the place of love itself.
Love is more than a feeling. Humans' emotions swell and fade, come and go. Emotions fail, and as we know from 1 Corinthians 13, love never fails. While we can definitely feel love and affection, love is so much more than an emotion.
Love is dedicating ourselves to persevere through our emotions, through any situation, so that when we no longer feel "attracted to" or when we feel angry or hurt or unwanted by someone we love, we stick by them all the same. Love is sacrificing your own wants, desires, and ambitions for someone else, even when it hurts. Even when they don't deserve it. Especially when they don't deserve it.
Love is more than a feeling. Humans' emotions swell and fade, come and go. Emotions fail, and as we know from 1 Corinthians 13, love never fails. While we can definitely feel love and affection, love is so much more than an emotion.
Love is dedicating ourselves to persevere through our emotions, through any situation, so that when we no longer feel "attracted to" or when we feel angry or hurt or unwanted by someone we love, we stick by them all the same. Love is sacrificing your own wants, desires, and ambitions for someone else, even when it hurts. Even when they don't deserve it. Especially when they don't deserve it.
Love is sacrifice. Love is a verb. Love is something you do.
Love is cleaning the house for your mom, not to score "awesome daughter/son points," not for personal gain, but because you sincerely want to make things easier for her. Love is helping your little siblings even when they're bugging you like crazy. Love is walking with your friend through a tough time even when it's hard for you. Love is praying for an enemy. Love is sacrificing your time, your desires, your possessions, your blood for someone else. Love is dying in the place of another.
God is love. Jesus dying for us is love.
Dying for someone is so much more than just a feeling.
True love -- God's love -- is worth everything, and more.
God is love. Jesus dying for us is love.
Dying for someone is so much more than just a feeling.
True love -- God's love -- is worth everything, and more.
Share God's love with someone today.
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| {1 Corinthians 13} |
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do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ~ ephesians 4:29