love shmove

Today is February 13. Therefore tomorrow is that long awaited day for a beautiful night with a sweetie or a dreadful day for single ladies like myself. Otherwise known as Valentine's day! Woohoo. I am a bahumbug when it comes to this holiday. This is also coming from a girl who has never been in a relationship. Maybe when I finally find a cutie to celebrate it with, I'll appreciate it more. But until then, I'd rather say the word pimple. 

Ever since Disciple Now several weeks ago, I've been viewing the Bible in different perspectives. I've prayed for God to take my eyes and see His Word in a whole new way. He has done exactly that. A passage that I keep coming back to is in John 1. You know, in the beginning there was the Word and the Word was God. As I keep running into this passage, I stop. I think about it. I write it down in multiple versions. I look into the words. I try to picture someone actually writing this and thinking about it as intently as I am. 

"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness can never extinguish it." 

John 1:1-5

Phew. What? 

That was my first reaction several times. 

Mind blown.

That was my reaction the next several times.

Jesus brought light to this dark world. He was God in the flesh. 

"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son."

John 1:14

This is love. Love that came down to rescue a lost world. This is a love we had never known before. It was not an empty, emotional, romantic love. It was agape. This is a love that died to know who we are. A favorite worship leader, Kari Jobe, sings so beautifully, what love is this? That You gave Your life for me to make a way for me to know You? 

God's redeeming love is the greatest force we have. It moves us to move to a third world country to love the orphans. It moves us to surrender our lives to His will. It moves us to care for people who hate us. If you have experienced His love, it should make a drastic change in your life. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us that three things will last forever and love is the greatest. Knowing God's love, everything in life makes sense. Everything is bound together by Christ's perfect love for us. Living in the love of Christ is the only way we have meaning. The desire all human beings have to want to love and be loved is only found in knowing Christ because He is the definition of love. 

Forget the flowers. Forget the teddy bears. Forget the heart-shaped box candy. 

Let the love of Christ consistently flow through you. 

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters."

1 John 3:16