BE MY VALENTINE

Newsletter 283 February 19, 2012
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When I say, “Be my valentine“, I am not necessarily thinking of hearts, chocolates, flowers, and gifts. They may be appropriate under the right circumstances. Nor, am I thinking of one day of the year to celebrate.

Putting aside my inherit aversion to public demonstrations of emotions, and the origin of Valentine’s day, I can hardly totally ignore it. Besides, there is a lot said in the Bible about love. I Corinthians 13: is called the “Love Chapter“ of the New Testament. Also, John is especially known for his often spoken admonition that Christians should love one another. If the Bible says we should do something, then we should. We have no excuse not to. If it is also said that if there are three commands, God really means we should do it now, but what about this? I simply searched the words, “love one another” and my computer promptly showed, not one time, not two, not three times, but 19 times! And that does not count other variations in the wording. As Christians, we are to be known for our love for one another.

Paul wrote these beautiful words: (In current English, the word “charity” here should now be translated “love”) I have made that change here.

1 Corinthians 13:1-10

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

(1 Corinthians 12:10, 2 Corinthians 12:4, Revelation 14:2, Psalm 150:5)

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not (love), I am nothing.

(Matthew 7:22, Acts 13:1, 1 Corinthians 11:4, 1 Corinthians 13:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4:1, 1 Corinthians 14:39, 1 Corinthians 14:2, 1 Corinthians 15:51, Romans 15:14, 1 Corinthians 12:9, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23)

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not (love), it profiteth me nothing.

(Matthew 6:2)

4 (Love) suffereth long, and is kind; (love) envieth not; (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

(Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 17:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 1 Peter 4:8, Acts 7:9, 1 Corinthians 4:6)

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

(1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:21, 2 Corinthians 5:19)

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

(2 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 John 4, 3 John 3f)

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

(1 Corinthians 9:12)

8 (Love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

(1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 Corinthians 13:1)

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

(1 Corinthians 13:12)

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

This describes true, meaningful Christian love, not to be confused with what currently is so often called love in song or print. I once returned a film to our local library with a sticker label adhered suggesting that it be destroyed as it was pure garbage. It was not pornographic, but it had disgusting dialog and no story line or message at all. God wants our lives to be a message of Christian love for Him to a world that surely needs it but probably has no idea of what it really is.

It requires action. “God so loved the world, that He gave…..,” Gave what? “His only begotten Son.” Why? That we might be able to have life eternal with Him.

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2012

FEBRUARY

19th. Sunday – Exodus 21, 22, Mark 4:26-41, Psalm 22:19-31
20th. Monday – Exodus 23, 24, Mark 5:1-20, Psalm 23
21st. Tuesday - Exodus 25, 26, Mark 5:21-43, Proverbs 5:15-23
22nd. Wednesday - Exodus 27, 28, Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 24
23rd. Thursday - Exodus 29, 30, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 25:1-11
24th. Friday – Exodus 31, 32, Mark 7, Psalm 25:12-22
25th. Saturday - Exodus 33, 34, Mark 8, Proverbs 6:1-11

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” – Mark 10:14b

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