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Discussion

February 7, 2013

On Valentine's Day, live out God's definition of love

By Sarah Thompson, columnist Enid News and Eagle

— I love a good romantic movie. You know, the one where the guy with the British accent falls in love with the girl with perfect hair, and they live happily ever after?

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of the perfect love story. But, in reality, love isn’t perfect. It’s awkward, full of butterflies and worrying about your braces getting stuck together.

The media may have its idea of what love looks like, and we don’t exactly get it right all the time, but God provided us with the ultimate example of love when He sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins.

John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” It is through His sacrifice we know what love is.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-6, God gives us His definition of love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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.”

If you were to replace the word “love” in that passage with your name, would it sound like you? For example: “Sarah is patient, Sarah is kind. Sarah does not envy, Sarah does not boast, Sarah is not proud…”

If you’re like me, you’re probably far from perfect, but this passage gives us a clear understanding of what God expects of us in our relationships.

This Valentine’s Day, I pray you will strive to live out God’s definition of love, and it is my hope you will experience God’s love in a greater way this year.

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, ‘Jump,’ and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:1-3



Follow Sarah Thompson, who is a social worker in the Enid area, at mysemi-dysfunctionallife.blogspot.com or email her at uncommongrace1@gmail.com.

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