February and Valentine’s Day are a time to celebrate love. For centuries we have celebrated romantic love and those who seem to have found it. Many “great” loves have been recorded through time – Romeo and Juliet, Napoleon and Josephine, Cleopatra and Mark Antony. However, these loves were limited by the frailty of human emotion and romantic feelings – which may change or dissolve over time.
The Bible teaches us about a better love.
A lasting love.
The Greatest Love.
In Matthew 22:36-38 (NIV), Jesus is being questioned about religious law. There was a great, ongoing debate about which of the hundreds of religious laws had the most importance; 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus responded with authority and wisdom. 37 “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.’ “
Jesus’ answer replaced rules with relationship. A relationship of Christ-like love; a conscious decision, a choice. Not a feeling that can fade or an emotion that can falter. God longs for us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. This is His greatest commandment, and it is fulfilled by us when we offer our greatest love. It frees us from the shackles of the old law and the wages of sin. It offers us mercy, grace, and redemption. And all we need to do is love.
During the season of Valentines and romance, remember there is an eternal love with no limits and it is available to all who ask. The love of our faithful and merciful God…the greatest love of all.
~ Tamara
