With Valentine’s Day nearly upon us, our thoughts often turn to romantic love—what we want to do for the one we love, regrets on the one that got away, despair over the lack of anything that looks like a love life.
But as Christians, I think this is a question we need to ask ourselves not just near Valentine’s Day but all year long, every year.
As Christians, we have a much deeper love life. It begins, as the whole of our life does, with questions about God. Do we love God? If so, how do we show God our love? Is our love for God ongoing or sporadic? Do we accept the love God offers us?
The following are some reminders of God’s love:
Though our feelings come and go, God’s love does not.
—C.S. Lewis
I am loved by God and nothing can take this away from me.
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.
–Augustine
God is love. He didn’t need us. But he wanted us.
And that is the most amazing thing.
–Rick Warren
As we are able to receive and understand God’s great love for us, we can begin to love ourselves. The bible itself has very little to directly say about loving ourselves. Yet it is an essential part of being a child of God. We are told to love others as we love ourselves. We are created in the image of God. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Faith, hope, love. Gifts for ourselves that keep our eyes focused outside of us. But we can’t share what we don’t have.
And finally the love that is so much a part of our Christian faith: love of others. We are called to share the love we have received, have experienced with others. How is this part of your love life? Do you find it easy to love family and friends? Do you find it easy to love difficult people?
In asking “how’s your love life?” it’s a reminder to have a heart checkup; to make sure that you are loving as completely as you can. As you listen, God will once again speak words of love to your heart, it is my hope and prayer that you will hear God say to you, “You are my Beloved.”
Blessings,
Pastor Kristin
