He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Matthew 22:37-39 HCSB
On Valentine’s Day we all think of love as a big red heart. We try to please the one we love with gifts or nice dinners or candy or flowers. We go out of our way to do something nice for the ones we love. This goes for whether it is a new love, a superficial love, or a deep, lasting love that has stood the test of time.
When we love someone, we want to do what is best for them. We want to do the things that please them and make them happy.
When our love runs deep, the one we love is more important than anything else in our lives. We will do anything including dying for that person.
This is just the kind of love God has for us. He died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). We don’t have to clean up, we can come to God as we are. We are told in 1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins, He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God loved us so much He sent His Son to die on a cross to save us from our sins. He gives us the choice to accept His Son as our Savior and spend eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior (John 3:16).
Many marriages fail because of a shallow love. It’s a fragile love that cannot stand the test of time. It doesn’t run deep: it is built on things like looks and lust and it just can’t survive the battering that takes place when the storms come.
The marriage between Christ and His church (which is us) will last throughout eternity. Revelation 19 speaks of the great marriage feast that will be held in heaven after the tribulation. His love runs deep. He gave His life for us. We are told in John 15:13 that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.” This is the ultimate sacrifice. This is the ultimate proof of a love that runs deep and a love that will stand the test of time.
The kind of love humans give us here on earth will thrill us at times, but at times it may break our hearts. We are told in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, the Love chapter, that love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. It finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends and it never fails. This chapter ends in verse 13 by saying, “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
My friend I encourage you to daily celebrate the great love your heavenly Father has for you. Read the Bible, His love letter to us. Come to appreciate the depth of His love.
When we study His word and pray to Him daily, we come to know Him. We come to understand the depth of His great love for us, and we grow deeper in love with Him.
We can have a superficial love for Him where we say we love Him but don’t obey His commands. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Don’t settle for a superficial love with your Savior. Love deeply. Grow deeper in love with Him each and every day. Trust in Him. Confess your sins to Him. Communicate with Him continuously through Bible study and prayer. Get to know Him and His great love for you. Fall deeper and deeper in love with Him each and every day.
Have a great day!