Love, or lack there of...

Hi friends,
It is that time of year again. The time of year when the aisles of your nearest Walgreens become filled to the rafters with red-foil covered chocolate kisses and far-too-expensive greeting cards. Time as come again for mushy love poems and sappy 80's rock-ballads (although... in my opinion... it is ALWAYS time for a sappy 80's rock-ballad). Valentine's day is just around the corner and in honor of ye ol' St. Valentine... I will blog this evening on Love.
In my near 24 years of existence on this planet, I have come to realize that the world is desperate for love. Each one of us longs to love and be loved, but we often we misunderstand what exactly that entails. So instead, we use the word 'love' in casual conversation - I love ice cream... I love my Jeep... I love my new Jimmy Choo's.

We foolishly link one of the strongest human emotions to things that essentially have no worth. I have also come to learn that in order to find the true meaning of what Love really is, we must turn our gaze upward, for the Lord is Love Himself. Many of you have heard the word "Agape" used to describe love. Agape, an ancient greek work commonly used in the Bible, never refers to romantic feelings or the "tickle in your tummy" kind of love. It doesn't refer to brotherly love or having a kinship with another person. Agape love... real love... is what I like to call a "God Thing".

Someone once said that true, genuine love is giving of ourselves to meet the needs of others without expecting anything in return. It is fairly easy to give if, in return, we expect to gain. In the same way, it is easy to love if, in return, we expect to BE loved. However, that is not always the case. I am the first to tell you that unrequited love bites the big one! I am also the first to tell you that this true love I am speaking of expects nothing in return. This love that I am talking about starts in the heart of Christ and flows to the hearts of others. This love that I am talking about is not just a feeling... it's an action... it's a choice... it's a way of living. This love is selfless, humble, and undeserving.

So... all this makes sense, right? Here comes the hard part.... Scripture not only tells us that this kind of love was found in Christ, but it tells us this kind of love ought to be the defining characteristic in us, as well. (John 13:34-35)

That is where I come up a bit short. I can say with a fair amount of confidence that I am a loving person. I've been given the gift of compassion, at least in some capacity, and truly enjoy spreading that love and compassion to those who may need it. However... I also like to hear that I'm doing a darn good job passing out that compassion and have been known to get annoyed if no one notices. I'll be the first to admit I have complimented someone only to receive a compliment in return. I've flirted with someone only so they will flirt back. None of these self-centered acts are acts of humility. None of these are acts of Love.

Beneath all this rambling... my point is that in this season of Love we should all seek to give away as much real, genuine love as possible and the only way to give that love away is to receive it from Christ Himself. Leave the candied hearts and scented candles on the shelves at Hallmark, and look upward, my friends. Be eager to receive the selfless abundant love that is being given to you and then turn elsewhere and selflessly give it away.

That is Valentine's Day.

"amazing love..."
Tempa