It's February, which is a month that can bring a lot of strong emotions. Maybe you're thrilled, because you get to celebrate with your significant other, or maybe you're dreading the chocolate hearts and roses because it only reminds you of your singleness.
Whichever boat you're in, February always leads us to thinking more about love, specifically from a boyfriend or girlfriend. Us singles often struggle with the loneliness of not dating anyone, and maybe even feel left out. I think that even couples can struggle with this idea of what love really is, because despite what the Hallmark movies portray, love isn't easy or painless.
We all crave real, genuine love, in some way, but it can be hard for us to truly understand. Our world screams #couplegoals and romance and grand gestures but is that really love? Is that the kind of love we're all striving for? Is that all there is?
I don't think so.
I've been thinking a lot about love lately, and not only because it's February but because it's a desire in my heart to love and be loved. I want real love, not love that's shown in the movies or on social media.
But what does that really look like? What is "real" love?
The more I think about this, the more I think about Jesus. I think about how He got on His knees and washed his friends' feet. I think about how He took time out of His busy day to notice the bleeding woman who just needed a simple touch. I think about how He paused and talked to the woman at the well, who was craving true intimacy and contentment but was looking for it in all the wrong places. I think about His death, on the cross, and how He was thinking of us as He died.
Real love isn't always pretty. It takes sacrifice, intentionality. Sometimes love takes us out of our comfort zone, requires putting others before ourselves. It takes getting down and dirty and personal because real love is never surface level. Real love requires intimacy, but that intimacy doesn't come from sex. I believe it comes from becoming vulnerable, opening up your heart even though it may mean getting hurt, and truly desiring to serve this person above yourself.
Real love isn't all about grand gestures and roses and kisses and chocolate hearts. Real love looks like Jesus, being willing to serve and humble yourself enough to be honest and gentle. Real love requires us to step back from everything we have conceived in our head about what love and relationships look like to learn from Jesus and allow Him to truly work in our hearts.
And guys, I'm not going to start quoting 1 Corinthians 13 or John 3:16, because I want us to go deeper than that. Where did those verses come from? What (or who) inspired them?
The Sunday school answer is always Jesus, but that's the right answer.
Jesus inspired these verses about love because He is love.
Jesus loves us endlessly. He overflows with grace and compassion. He selflessly serves us, giving His all to His Father first and then to us. He loves us with everything He is, even though we often reject Him. He forgives beyond what's deserved and gives beyond what's expected. His love fills the empty parts of our heart, and perfectly satisfies our soul. We can't fully comprehend His love, but we can experience it in ways that are so real and so life-changing.
I don't know about you, but that's the kind of love I want.
So this Valentine's season, let's not settle for the fake love, for anything less than Jesus. Let's not compare the love Jesus has for us to the happy couples walking the halls of our school because it's not comparable. Let's keep our eyes fixed on the Lord and cling to our relationship with Him. Let's learn how to love like He loves us, because why would we keep this incredible, life changing, heart transforming love to ourselves?
Y'all, Jesus is real love, and that love surpasses everything we will ever know or experience here on earth. I am so thankful that we don't need to depend on a relationship to feel loved or be loved, because we can find all of that (and more!) in Jesus.
How has God been showing His love to you lately? Let me know in the comments below!
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