We just had a month that is symbolized by “love”. Hearts, flowers and/or chocolates, and “Valentine’s Day” cards are given out to those we love (or to other classmates for those in grade school). But, underneath the commercialized items that are heavily promoted, what if you are experiencing anything but love?
Underneath what others may think is a “happy, loving home”, there may be anger, frustration, resentment, or bitterness; unmet expectations and deep disappointments, or actual abusive behavior—sometimes never “seen” by others. But, God sees and knows! He hears the cries of our hearts!
I used the above pictures to illustrate that our “roads of life” are often not smooth like newly laid asphalt, but may be rocky and bumpy—ones on which we can easily trip and fall, and sometimes get seriously hurt. When looking for illustrations of “love”, I saw the cloud shaped heart. Although it isn’t a “pillar”, I instantly thought of the story in Exodus, when God promised Moses and the people of Israel who were fleeing slavery in Egypt, that He would lead them with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21). God promises healing and comfort to those who seek Him, His Word is full of those promises. He uses wise Christian counselors, pastors, and friends to help us, but ultimately it is Jesus, as God’s Son, through His Holy Spirit who promises to be our intercessor and deliverer! (See Hebrews 4:14-16, and Psalms 18:2-6) We all need these verses and promises to be our strength and comfort in time of need!
It is easy to be loving when everything is going well. I think God allows us to experience the “rocky roads” of life to remind us of our need for Him! No one can love others as He commands us to (Matthew 22:39) apart from His grace and strength…we need Him to love through us, those who are hard to love.
I want to include the famous “love chapter”, as I need to focus on it too. Let the Holy Spirit show you where and how He wants you to offer some small gift of “love” to someone else. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Dear Lord, Grant us Your grace and strength to show love to those around us. Love through us, when loving is hard! Thank you for YOUR faithfulness “to will and to do Your good pleasure” in us. (Philippians 2:13)
