Mary Crisp Jameson - copyright material







Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Valentine's Day

     Valentine's Day is associated with love, heart shaped designs, and cupids.  But, what is love?  1 Corinthians not only defines it for us but tell is what we are without it.  "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." 
     "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous, love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, endures all things.  Love never fails..."
     There is no greater love that has ever been shown than when Jesus laid down His life for me.  Jesus even prayed for me as He hung upon that cross when he asked in agony, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."  
     Other examples of love which we can apply to our lives today are: 
     In Luke 15, we read about the Parable of the Lost Son (Patience and Forgiveness).  The Father, who had waited patiently for his son to return from his riotous living, instantly forgave him and celebrated with him.   
     In Luke 10, we are given the Parable of the good Samaritan (Neighborly Love) who seeing a man that had been beaten and robbed had compassion.  He bound up the stranger's wounds, carried him to an inn, and took care of him. 
     In John 11, we are given the story of Lazarus and his death.  When Jesus saw the anguish of Lazarus's family and friends, "He wept."  (Compassion)
     There are so many deeds people do to show love, but sadly the news seldom shares these stories. Yet, love is written on the hearts of many, many people.  They have followed the words given in Proverbs 3:3, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."   

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