Live In Love

February 14, 2021

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

~I John 4:9~

Today I know most of you are celebrating valentines day with your loved ones, family members or you may be sitting by yourself wondering "what's the use?" There is hope for everyone, even those who don't have that someone right now physically beside them. Thinking of the love that fills your relationship allows you to give gifts of flowers, candy or maybe even a little stuffy, as my daughter calls them. As we look at our husbands, wives, boyfriends or girlfriends we can say thank you to God most of all. For me, although i love my husband so deeply and am so grateful for our relationship, I am giving this day to Jesus. Everyday is of course His, yet today on this valentines day I celebrate the love that God gave us. The relationship between us and Him. Through His beautiful Son we have this life. The Father loved us so much that we are able to live today out giving gifts to those who surround us and focus on what love really is about.

"We love Him because He first loved us."

(I John 4:19)

For me, I love to pray to Jesus as my Husband. As I am His bride who waits for His return, it brings in a whole new amount of love that surpasses anything I could imagine. We are truely never alone, even if we do not have a natural spouse here on earth, we have Jesus. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:7)

It is a beautiful way to live each day to make oueselves ready as His bride, without spot and blemish. Holy and acceptable. For this day of love we remember the God we serve is love. It is a beautiful thing what true love can really accomplish. It can overcome evil and conquer giants. It can change our destiny. It can give us strength and satisfaction. Love never fails. "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away." (I Corinthians 13:8)

Without the Lord Jesus Christ coming into this world I don't think that any of us would have experienced what love is all about. For those who have not experienced Jesus yet, He is still reaching out to you right now. He loves everyone. He died for everyone. He strives for them to reach back. For the ones who do know Him and may have slipped away from giving Him their full attention each day, or would rather focus the most on their natural love, He is reaching to them as well. Urging to come to Him today. Not to say He does not want you to love your earthly marraige. This is a gift in itself from heaven.

"Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband." (I Corinthians 7:3)

However, let us focus on Him first today, it is our Shabbat after all. What better of a day for this holiday to fall on? We can appreciate every gift we receive today and if we receive no physical gifts we can look up and understand that the greatest gift of all we have already received and will continue to have eternally. While flowers may die and candy be eaten, Jesus is forever.

"but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."

(Matthew 6:20)

The true love in Jesus is never changing, never failing and always there to celebrate. This one day can turn into everyday for us when we follow our Lord in spirit and in truth. The joy comes from His fullness in us. The Fathers gift to us beats any kind of gift we can get from our loved ones today. We should be giving thanks to Him as we hug our loved ones tightly, as we eat delicious foods He has made for our bodies and as we dance to music He has provided. He loves us all so very much there is no room to feel sadness if we do not have an earthly love right now beside us. He is there. "I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land." (Psalms 143:6)

Let us stay thirsty for the Lord and continue to drink from His well that runs so deep and far, filled with everlasting water which supplies us eternal life. "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

There is no greater love then this. Today as we gather with our loved ones, let us worship together for Jesus. Let us sing songs of praise together. Let us light a candle as a symbol of the Lord's presence within our marraiges and relationships. Let us submit as a couple to be the bride of Christ. For those who are not with someone, i urge you to still praise, worship and light that candle and know He is yours, He is there and He is love. The reward in heaven is greater then anything you can have here. No need to feel any other emotion then the love of Christ. Meditate on scriptures of love and peace today. Read them to your children and invite Jesus into your home to celebrate this day with Him. If not for Him we wouldn't be here to do so. Happy Valentines Day to all of you and may the love of God fill your hearts in Christ Jesus!

Prayer:

Loving Father, thank you for Your deep love that is beyond words. I know You never change and You are always beside me. I celebrate this valentines day on Shabbat retsing beside You and invite Your love to fill me. Show me how to love others how You have loved me. Lead me in the way of everlasting and let my family gather together in Spirit and Truth as we grasp on to Your Son who is love manifested. I give honor and praise today in remembrance of the great sacrifice You gave this world by offering Your Son so that I could live through Him. The joy of the Lord that fills me is more satisfying then any earthly gift I could ever receive. Help me to bless today, to be used today and to bring glory to Your Name today. Without You I would never know love. I receive blessings and rebuke curses today in the Mighty Name of Yeshua, my dear Husband and King. Amen.