GOD’S FLOWER GARDEN III: THE RED ROSE
LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVE’S EXCELLING
Song of Solomon 2:1
God’s Flower Garden speaks a language all its own. The rose has long been considered the favorite flower in the entire garden. No other plant whispers to us like the rose – in times of celebration . . . joy . . . sickness . . . sorrow. When Solomon, in all his glory, speaks of his beloved as the Rose of Sharon, many of us see the analogy as a foreshadowing of God’s Love which would be expressed to the world in the coming of His Son Jesus.
We have compared the yellow rose to the warmth of joy we feel in our hearts because of the divine friendship experienced by those who have received Him as personal Savior and Lord. He is my friend!
We have compared the white rose to the purity of His character which His followers are supposed to incorporate into their relationships and daily routines. Yes, we strive for holiness of character.
No floral display from God’s garden would be complete without the best loved flower of them all – the RED ROSE.
There was a time in my marriage when I thought I had to give my wife a dozen roses on special occasions. Where the notion of a dozen roses came from I do not know. Why, I even know a fellow who went to the extreme of giving his wife dozens and dozens of roses each anniversary.
What a relief it was to me when, prior to one of our anniversaries a number of years ago, my wife told me that she did not want a dozen roses because they were so expensive (She is very thrifty). What she said was, “If you want to say ‘I love you’ by giving me flowers, just one rose will do.”
Folks, when the Lord God our Creator wanted to say “I love you” to His creation, He sent just one rose – the Rose of Sharon.
One reason why the red rose is the all-time favorite of all roses is its meaning. The red rose is symbolic of “divine love” - not just any kind of love. The greatest love of all is divine love.
The word translated “love” in our English Bible has four different meanings in the original languages of the Bible. In the Old Testament, there is a Hebrew word for love that means “caring” – so that when certain scriptures refer to God’s love, they are interpreted to mean “God cares” or “God is a caring God.”
In the New Testament, there is a Greek word “eros”- translated in English as “love”- and this word has reference to “romantic love” between a man and a woman.
Another Greek word “phileo” - translated “love”- has to do with “friendship” – for example, “phileo” is the root word in the name of the city of Philadelphia, which is known as “the city of brotherly love” – a motto intended to promote friendship among that city’s population.
Yet another Greek word “agape” - translated “love” in the English New Testament - means “divine love” - the kind God demonstrated to us when He gave His Son to be our Savior.
Now, John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave . . ..” This kind of “sacrificial giving” is known as “agape” – DIVINE love.
What “agape” means is this: I am committed to doing that which is in the best interests of another person, so that the other person can fulfill his or her God-given potential of becoming the person God wants him or her to be – even if giving of yourself requires sacrifice on your part.
As a mother or father, you understand what “agape” means . . . As a wife or husband, you understand what “agape” means . . . A child of God understandS what “agape” means . . .. You gave of yourself many times throughout your life on behalf of the well-being of another person.
“Agape” – divine love – is the kind of love that God has shown to us, and the kind of love He expects us to show to others.
It seems to me that the apostle John - whose life epitomized the true meaning of love in its specific applications – caring, friendship, and sacrifice – has given us the admonition that we all need to heed:
“Let us love one another, for love is of God . . . He that does not love does not know God, for God is love . . . Herein is love – not that we loved God but that He loved us and gave His Son to die for our sins . . . God is love, and anyone who dwells in love dwells in God . . . There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear . . . Brothers and sisters, I repeat that we love God because He first loved us . . . and he or she who loves God loves his brother and sister in Christ.” (I John 4)
Folks, do you read into this admonition from the beloved apostle John what I read into it?
Here’s what these words of wisdom say to me: Love is the answer. Love is the answer to any problems I may have in terms of my relationship to God or my relationship to others.
If my wife and I have a problem, love is the answer.
If you or I have a problem with a friend, love is the answer.
If you or I have a problem with God, love is the answer.
What it all means is that if we desire to restore a broken relationship, we are going to have to take the initiative to do so. Love is something you do! We must put actions to our words.
It’s one thing to SAY that we love someone; it’s quite another thing to show it by words and deeds of kindness.
God SHOWED His love to us. His Son Jesus Christ willingly showed His love for you and me. Likewise, we ought to show our love for others.
Another thing I think of when I compare divine love to a red rose is the fact that every rose bush has thorns attached to it. But have you ever known anyone who wanted you to give them the thorns instead of the roses?
No! What we do is we present the rose in its beauty - on a stem that has been clipped of its thorns. We cut off that which could be harmful – those thorns that might hurt someone.
True love gets rid of the thorns in our relationships because none of us should want to be a “thorn in the side” of anyone.
Love without the thorns is divine love; and THAT is the kind of love we want in our relationship with family and friends, is it not?
Remember, “God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son” – and God’s Son wore the crown of thorns for us as He bore the Cross for our sins. Oh, what love!
One of the great Methodist preachers of all time, Charles Wesley, captured the beauty of divine love in one of the church’s great hymns:
“Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth came down;
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.”
“Finish then Thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory unto glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise!
When you see a red rose, be reminded of the divine love which God has shown to us, AND the divine love God expects us to show to each other. Amen.
