Dictionary
Someone once said “all you need is love." And while I tend to agree with the sentiment, my rationalizing mind rejects the notion vehemently, as I think of oxygen, food and water, etc… MOOP needs a lot more than love, BUT I AM spending this month thinking about just how much I need it!
In a Bible Study I am involved with we've been discussing the 3 things that remain, endure, last for all times: Faith, Hope and Love. The “Love Chapter" ends by stating that “the greatest of these is love." I caution people against elevating one thing because of the natural result of diminishing everything else. This happens because we're fallen and unbalanced people who can't see clearly enough to recognize our own faults many times and need other people to serve as mirrors for our selfish souls. I believe that only God can elevate one thing above others without diminishing the value of those other things. He's God. He can do whatever He wants. And He's the One Who breathed this Scripture into existence so, I trust Him at His word even though I only understand it “in part."
We've had a great time over the past 2 weeks at this early morning fellowship just talking about faith, hope and love, and asking questions about each. I've learned a lot about how much I need to intentionally focus on showing love. I've also learned that it's not enough to just show love the way I think love is shown, but rather, I need to study people and find out how they receive love. Just about everyone had heard of “the love languages" and the books written about them. I'd wager though, that among those who've heard about this concept, its only a small percentage of people that actually understands, believes, and puts it into practice. I sure don't! It's a lifelong quest! But this will be the month I focus specifically on learning more about this verb of love, and to what I hope will be the delight of my wife: practicing speaking her love language!
Lastly, since I want these monthly focuses to be two fold: taking up something AND giving up something else, I plan to refrain from what I think is the opposite of love: selfishness. I want to make sure my time is not only seen by me as MY time, and I'll do my best to keep that in mind as I set my sights on loving like Jesus loved.
Be blessed as you give and receive the greatest of these, my friends!
In His Love,
Adam
Oh, and happy Valentines Day!