Gleaning Insights from the Loveliest Day

Valentine’s Day is a lovely day, and I hope everyone out there feels loved, and especially valued.

Since this is the faith section of my site, I’m free to express a Christlike view of one of God’s greatest creations, that of being in love, or even just loving others non-romantically.

Today, I want to go over four verses, and how they show us God’s love toward us, as well as how we love others, plus romance. These four verses impact areas of life where love is in action.

1)      “The LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3 [ESV]).

Yahweh loves His people with an everlasting love, a long, age-enduring love that is full of faithfulness toward her.

This is the type of love we are to emulate for others, despite all obstacles, backgrounds, and stations. The context of this verse is turning mourning back into joy for Israel (the people themselves, not land).

Love is a bright star waiting to explode with the emotion of happiness. In returning our joy, our Father shows us love is supposed to come to us as a joyous occasion. His love never fails and never runs out.

May we have the ability to return the same to others.

2)      “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 [ESV]).

God shows us what pure and unselfish love looks like.

We are to spread this form of love to others around us. Early Christians were a communal and brotherly/sisterly effort among the part of believers. They shared everything with each other and only looked out for the good of the gospel.

Many ancient people in the Roman Empire marveled at this, these strange people who placed love more than anything else. No one was excluded. The blind, the lame, the deaf, the pagan who didn’t know which god was Yahweh, and a host of others.

The main point to draw here is God is a perfect example of how to do this, and while we can’t be perfect, we have the capability to offer of ourselves to others.

3)      “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine;” (Song of Solomon 1:3 [ESV]).

Since today is Valentine’s Day, the last two verses are about romantic love.

I’m a romantic at heart, and think God created one of the best things in this universe with the love between two lovers, whether at the beginning of a blossoming relationship or at the goal of a full-bloomed marriage.

Song of Solomon is one of the biblical books that needs an age rating before someone reads it. It’s quite detailed about the things between the two lovers and makes blatant references that would make the most stone-faced, stoic man blush a little.

But love is supposed to be celebrated between two people that God has matched, and I find the infinite beauty of the cosmos doesn’t compare to one of His finer creations that involves humans.

Love isn’t just about chemicals and our brains processing emotions, it’s about connecting two individuals on a spiritual level beyond the material plane of existence.

4)      “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.” (Genesis 29:20 [ESV]).

Jacob, who later became Israel’s namesake, waited seven years for the woman he loved, and those years flew by because of the love he had for her.

How many of us are this patient? As Paul said in 1 Corinthians, one of the facets of genuine love is patience.

This is real patience at work in the life of one of our patriarchs.

Hebrew thought suggests Rachel was Jacob’s bashert, or soulmate. His intended one.

Like the incident with Rebecca at the well in Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac, this is a divine intervention and plan at work. Through Rachel came multiple tribes of Israel, and Joseph, who eventually saved the nation from extinction during a terrible famine.

The concept of a soulmate is not crazy or “out-there.” God has a plan for our lives, and part of that plan is who we marry. It’s better to not leave it up to yourself (in a misguided sense, anyway) and choose the right person He has in mind for you. Heartaches and tears are avoided if we ask Him in the first place. He knows you really like this person if you’re interested in them, or how to find them. He knows everything.

We all have freedom regarding our will, though, and God’s going to put you on someone’s radar, too, if you believe in finding the other half of yourself among the many people out there.

There are way too many instances of wacky situations that may even endanger others if we’re not careful to trust Him being faithful and not vain imaginations. If God shows you someone, then He’ll show them as well. It’s not a one-sided deal when it comes to love, as two people are involved.

The best way to find our soulmate is to ask the one who fashioned us in the womb. He knows who is meant for you, at what age you’re meant to find them, and all the tiny details of your life.

“God Almighty, Maker of the Universe, please show me the man/woman you created just for me.” It’s a simple prayer, and with the right heart, He’ll answer that prayer.

Valentine’s Day is a day where we get to celebrate loving others and the beautiful side of love. But it’s also a dark time where people who have lost hope of finding someone might take their own life.

I pray Yahweh heals the hearts of the people, that they might find true fulfillment in their lives, and with gratitude, find their intended match.

But remember. God loves you. He doesn’t want your story to stop without the happy ending He intended if you choose to follow His path.

Happy Valentine’s Day. Love is out there, but it’s also right there with you.