Give thanks to the Lord our God and King His love endures forever –
Forever by Chris Tomlin
Today is Valentine’s Day, the world’s day to celebrate love. It is the day set aside to share our love for those in our lives and is especially meant for couples. The gift of love is incredible and it is the greatest gift God gave us.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these [is] love.
[1Co 13:13 NKJV]
An uncle once told me that every day should be Valentine’s Day in a marriage. He said that every morning he’d say “Happy Valentine’s Day” to his wife because he wanted her to know how much he loved her and that just having her in his life made his life full and filled with love.
Marriage isn’t easy. Loving someone every single day without question can be difficult because as humans we have the nature to want to think of self first. Even though in the marriage ceremony we take the vow to love and cherish until death do us part It takes work. Unfortunately, many marriages do not make it. It starts with love and then the broken world starts to take its toll when the honeymoon phase is over.
God’s love is not like that. He loves us from beginning to end. He loved us before we were in our mother’s womb. He loved us so much that He sent His son to die for us.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
[Jhn 3:16 NKJV]
The love of God for us is enduring. Some of Webster’s Dictionary synonyms for enduring are “abiding, ageless, eternal, everlasting, immortal, timeless.” Just like God is everlasting; always there; the Alpha and the Omega, so is His love for us. God is love. Thus, God’s love is enduring. God has always loved us and will always love us, now and into eternity with Him.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Rom 8:38-39 NKJV]
As we focus on love for our spouses and each other today, and throughout the year, let us remember the One who gave us love first because He is love. God’s love for us endures forever.
Dear Jesus,
We thank God for His love for us. We are not worthy of it, and never will be worthy, yet He still loves us. God gave us the greatest gift of all, His love and you. In a world that is becoming increasingly self centered please help us remember that love is meant to be shared because it is You. It is not meant to be focused on self. Help us share God’s love. Help us remember that love is patient and kind. That love is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love is perfection because God is Love and God is perfect. Help us remember that God’s love is not fleeting but endures forever.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
[1Co 13:4-8 NLT]
| Give thanks to the Lord our God and King His love endures forever. For He is good, He is above all things His love endures forever. Forever – Lyrics Forever – Chris Tomlin |
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