Gary Philllips, Chaplain
2017
True love vs. romance 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 & verse 13
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. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Although, it might be said that all love has romance, I assure you all romance does not have love. Every year in the United States, and beyond, as February 14th, Valentine’s Day, approaches people’s minds turn to all things love and romance. But don’t be confused as they are not synonymous. Romance can be defined as an intense, often short-lived attraction, fascination, or enthusiasm for something or someone. Usually, this romantic attraction is based on some outside quality that is mysterious or fascinating, like something that appears adventurous, heroic, or unusually beautiful. This type of Romance is temporary and rooted in fantasy mostly, never growing past the level of infatuation. If real love was only romance, relationships would never really have a chance, they would be cursed to remain superficial at best. Your love has to be more than a greeting card’s sappy notions. Your love has to be more than a feeling…and your love has to be even more than just an action.
Scripture says love is more than just a feeling or an action…it is a lifetime of actions…It is complete unselfishness toward another. In one word, love is – sacrifice.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. This verse certainly means that being willing to give one’s life for another is at the height of unselfish love and sacrifice but God also says that you can and should be a living sacrifice.
True love thinks about everyone but itself. True love isn’t selfish, ridged, and locked in its own ways. True love is adaptable and ready, willing and able to adjust to the needs of others. Many times in scripture it refers to someone who can’t receive God’s love as someone who has hardened their heart. You’ve probably seen it in your life as well when someone is so ridged, so hardened, so focused on themselves…they cannot truly love someone else. Maybe you’re the one who falls into this category? So, ask yourself, do you look for the needs of others or are you constantly thinking about yourself? Scripture is God’s love letter to mankind, the most amazing Valentine card ever written and in its pages is the description of the ultimate act of love and sacrifice and also, Gods blueprints for true love and true romance. Now, think for a moment, if you will, as to the kind of love and its intensity… the love, of Country, that drives a man or woman to enlist and be willing to sacrifice their life in that service. So, this February 14th… please remember, in your prayers, all have felt that love and committed themselves to that service. For no one since Jesus Christ has someone you don’t even know been willing to give their life
for you… and that my friends is LOVE!
paraphrased from an original Holy Host posting 2/14 of the Jesus Christ Show