Love Of Our Life!

The fourteenth of February is noted on the calendar as being “Valentine’s Day”. On this day it has become traditional for valentines (without any real love attachment) to be exchanged by school children. However, cards, flowers, chocolates, jewelry, candlelight dinners, etc. are also given and enjoyed as tokens of AFFECTIONS that truly do exist between individuals. Some have even chosen this day to propose marriage to the one they have come to view as the “love of their life.” I pray that when you come to that point in your life you will focus on the development of that relationship with all the seriousness and commitment God intended to be associated with the oneness of marriage. For those of us who are married, our quest should be to exemplify God’s intent for marriage, keeping it honorable and holy. ( Hebrews 13:4)

When we consider in a general sense the “love of our life”, it is of paramount importance to consider where our AFFECTIONS rest. Remember Jesus pointed out that where our treasure is, that is where our heart will be also. ( Matthew 6:21) What kind of life focus do we treasure? Are our AFFECTIONS fixed on the right things?

Note Paul’s description of MISDIRECTED AFFECTIONS!
“(2) For people will be LOVERS OF SELF, LOVERS OF MONEY, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, UNGRATEFUL, unholy, (3) HEARTLESS, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, NOT LOVING GOOD, (4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD, (5) having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” ( 2 Timothy 3:2-5 ESV)

Don’t we see a lot of that going on in the world today? How important does being “right” seem to be within society in general? There is a song by Luther Ingram that states, “If loving you is wrong I don’t wanna be right.” The focus of that sentiment is more on what “I want” than on what is “right.” Such is the focus of many in this world! At the heart of selfishness, greed, ingratitude, evil, and simply living for worldly pleasure is the misdirection of the AFFECTIONS away from God and His Will to merely what self desires.

Where does the proper focus of AFFECTIONS begin? Jesus exhorted the disciples…
“IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.” ( John 14:15 ESV)
It is foolishness for one to claim to love the Lord and make no attempt to carry out His Will. A love that has a genuine interest in carrying out His Will should be seen as the basic foundation for our life.

John stated…
“For THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. And his commandments are not burdensome.” ( 1 John 5:3 ESV)

This is what true love is all about! (note also 2 John 6) Does such love truly mark what represents the “love of our life”; the focus of the AFFECTIONS of our entire being (heart, soul and mind) on God? ( Matthew 22:37) If our AFFECTIONS first find their resting place there, our love will be properly directed in the other areas of life as well. May we truly seek for our love to be right in God’s sight.

Have a great day DOMINATED BY A SERIOUS AND SINCERE GODLY LOVE!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Love