Fresh off of Valentine's day, I am sure you have read dozens of articles and blogs about love, relationships and the like.
Singles were told to hold on, don't give up, your time is coming soon! Couples were perusing the options of the most creative yet budget friendly ways to woo their partners and convince them of their love and creativity. While others in protest to the festivities relied on sarcasm, memes and Facebook blasts to get their venom and distaste out to the masses.
So why write another article about love? Well, outside of the flurry of romance and fluffy feelings and beyond the day of February 14 our love capabilities always need a regular check-up against the true barometer standards of Christ. Beyond the hopes of romance, sweet words, and wistful gazes what does it look like to love people every day the way Christ does?
The relationship between David and God has become a source of fascination for me. Their love relationship was one for the books-literally. I sat in Bible study one afternoon and listened as my aunt read 2 Samuel7 where the Lord tells David that His son would build the temple that would be the dwelling of the presence of God.
While the study focused on the significance of God's presence and how God blessed David, I thought of something else. The son that God was speaking of here is Solomon. Solomon - born to the wife of Uriah. Solomon - born from the shady circumstances of David's marriage to a woman that belonged to someone else.
God planned to do such a great thing through David's line that was more shady than 50 Shades of Grey. We know what a person does today and can't love them tomorrow. God knew what David would do tomorrow and loved him today. That to me is an amazing love, a love I don't believe we all understand.
Magnitude of love
I think that is why Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they would see the magnitude of God's love.
"And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3: 17-18
Paul, was in prison when he wrote, "... I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. Romans 8:39
He was convinced! Not that he just believed, or understood he was persuaded beyond doubt of God's love.
When I look at such a love, the way I love others becomes a weak fledging of an attempt. God calls us to love persons so they can see Christ, and I know that my attempts to love others many times depends on my mood, what they have done... or if I had enough coffee that morning!
Transcends
God's love for us transcends what we do. This is the way God is calling us to love. This kind of love does not focus on the tangible expressions of it from people who fall so short of our expectations.
No, I don't think we will ever love exactly like Christ does, but what a goal to strive for. May you first experience the Love that will make you complete, and then may you use that as a standard for how respond in love to others, not just on February 14 but every day.
Stacy-Ann Smith - is a third grade teacher and a psychotherapist. She is involved with youth and children's ministry and has a heart to work with young women teaching them the ways of the Lord. She serves as a board member of the Kingston and St. Andrew Foster Parent's Association.
Stacy-Ann Smith's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/stacy-ann-smith.html