Meditation

02/14/2020

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned” (Song of Solomon 8:6-7)

This passage is an excellent summary of the whole book in its celebration of human love between the sexes. The Hebrew term (‘ahabah) defined as “love” involves the whole person in an intensity of feelings for the other which expresses itself both in desire for that person and in self-giving to that person.

The Hebrew word encompasses sexual love, friendship love, and self-giving love. The marriage relationship involves all three types of love. Such love outlives death and produces a protective jealously which allows no competition. Marital love is commitment and trust forever. It cannot be destroyed, nor can it be purchased. God gives such love to two people committed to Him, and to one another.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, today’s society has become a “throw away society” so that when “we” deem it no longer as we first had it, it is thrown away. This is not even close to what God describes love as, nor is it ever intended to be discarded as a form of trash. Authentic love, whether it is between family members or couples, is intended to be that which lasts forever. If anything changes, it is us and not You, Abba. We ask that You bless us in our relationships, as well as the relationship we have with You. We love, depend on, and trust in You for all good things, Abba. All this we pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Show your love for Christ to someone today! And Christ will show His love for you forever.”

KNOWING GOD:

“Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him. Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight. Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. Do not pervert justice, do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. Do not go about spreading slander among or people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord. Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke our neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)

The Holy Spirit is the Teacher in the lives of Christians. Under His guidance, the words of biblical revelation become a living word for reach of us. As we study the recorded teachings of Jesus, the Spirit gives insight into their meanings. The Spirit is present at the Christian’s study desk and in every Christian study group, leading believers into all truth.

I AM:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”: (John 15:13-15)

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned fro my Father I have made known to you.

Second Thought of the Day:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge it will pass away, for we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears, comes. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1^st Corinthians 13:1-13)

In these verses Paul provided the most well-rounded yet concise definition of love. (Agape love in Greek, means to love another seeking the very best for them, without an expectation of anything in return). He enumerated the results of such love rather than specific strategies to have these results. This should not be considered an omission on Paul’s part. Love cannot be expressed simply by following a legalistic pattern. That love which seeks the positive results named by Paul will also work out methods which are inspired by the same love.

Programs, processes, and actions mean nothing of love does not motivate them. Love is a consistent attitude of personal humility and devotion to the good of others. We can love because God loved us (1^st John4:19). We seek to have love because our identifying characteristic as it is God’s.

1^st Corinthians is a common read for most weddings, though not in its entirety. I often refer to it as the “Love Chapter in the New Testament. Couples love it, because of its description of love, but I love because of Paul’s definition. On this Valentines Day, I pray that all read this and come to a new understanding of Chapter 13.