Written by: Stephanie Leonard
Wow! It’s the month of love... February is here and it’s the time of year that we set aside to focus on LOVE. We often take time and put a lot of thought into what to get that special someone in our lives. It makes us happy to see them happy, so we shower them with gifts to show them just how much we love them.
It reminds me of the story of a young lady that struggled all her life with who she was and what her life's purpose was. She would wake up every morning focused on things that would make her feel special, beautiful, and loved. She was trying to fill some void that was deep within her soul with things that were never quite fulfilling. One day she hit rock bottom and her only desire from there was to give up. But God…
She was reminded of a love she had heard about that was so strong that only one
person could ever fill it. It was a love that could reach down to the deepest, darkest depths of her soul. It was Jesus. He had been there all along trying to get her attention and remind her it was him that she was truly searching for. She had a void only Jesus could fill.
Jesus’ love isn't a forced love, yet it’s a perfect love. In John 15:9 it tells us, "As the
Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." God loves us so much that He provides a sacrificial love. He gave of himself for the love He has for us. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Wow, what a love. To sacrifice something so dear to Him for an unworthy person like myself. I was a horrible person with horrible thoughts. But God…
Now if you will just take a moment to think back in your life of a love as true and great as the love of Jesus. A love that comes with no limits: it’s not circumstantial, it can't be terminated, it isn’t selfish- a sacrificial love. Have you ever known a love like that? Have you ever felt love like that? If so, then you know that the love of Jesus can overcome anything. It could never be compared to the love of a spouse or a child. It could never be compared to your favorite food or your fancy car. That's not love. So if someone asks you this Valentine's Day if you have someone special in your life, you can tell them about the man who is a perfect description of love.
So if you ask me what love is, I’d simply answer JESUS.