Love And Marriage

What is love? What is it really? And how do we know we have it for one another? Especially when it comes to the one we consider marrying? God's Word is clear on what love is and what love is not. I'll tell you one thing though; love is not ANYTHING the world says it is! The world would have you believe that love is this and that. That love is all about feelings. It isn't. The world would have you believe that there such things as love "experts". There isn't. Now how do I know that? Simple really. The Bible says that GOD is love. So, in my book, anyone who claims to be a love "expert" is saying they're an expert on God. And we all know there's no such thing as that as far as mankind is concerned.

In fact, there is only ONE expert on God and He's the SON of the living God! There's only One person Who knows God better than anyone on the face of this earth and He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! Which makes Him MY Tribal Chief and the Head of the ONLY Table that matters! The Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Who was and is and is to come! The Lord of all! The Prince of peace! The Rose of Sharon! Our Savior! Our Redeemer! The Holy One of Israel! Somebody shout unto God where you are today!

Jesus is the foremost expert on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! John chapter one tells us, "In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God. NOTHING was made without Him. In Him was life and that life was the light of all mankind"! Simply put, if Jesus ain't in it, it ain't real! If Jesus ain't in it, it is not of God! You cannot love someone without the love of God in you first. You cannot give what you do not have! God is the source of all things through His Son, Jesus! So, the next time you consider someone to marry, look for Jesus! If they don't bring Jesus to the table, RUN!!!!

Let's read our text for today, 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know, in part, and we prophesy, in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know, in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Let's pray: "Father God, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we come to You today in the Name of Your Son, Jesus. We ask You, Father, to fill our hearts with Your love, with Your peace and with Your understanding. Let Your Word fill our hearts and minds with the knowledge You have for us. Touch every person here today. Let them be filled with Your Glory and revelation of Your Holy Spirit. Open every eye, every ear and every heart to see, hear, and receive the things of God today. In Jesus Holy Name we pray." Let all of God's people say, "Amen!"

Another Valentines Day has come and gone. Many people shopped relentlessly to find the perfect gift for their wives, girlfriends and fiancé's. They wanted this Valentines Day to be even better than the last. Many couples walked the aisles of churches and cathedrals all around the world to say, "I do." For most couples, it was their wedding anniversary. Most churches had a special services for couples to renew their wedding vows. Many pastors and preachers stood in the pulpits the Sunday before Valentines Day to preach a message much like this one. A message about love and what love is. What the Lord expects out of a Godly husband and wife. It was a week filled with echoes of love in the air.

Unfortunately for some, it was also a painful reminder that their loved ones were no longer with them. Some left by way of divorce. Others by death. Either way, many people felt the sorrow of the void left in their lives by that special someone that was no longer with them. The Bible records in Genesis 2:18 that God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." Ladies, let me tell you, in the Bible, what goes for the man, goes for the woman! Many women today have renounced love and marriage all together! They have the self absorbed mentality that says, "I don't need a man to take care of me!" "I don't need a man just to have him cheat on me!" "I don't need a man to help me with anything!" "I don't need a man! I'd rather stay single!"