This is dedicated to husbands and wives, as well as to upcoming newlyweds. May
these devotionals draw you closer to each other as well to the Lover of your
soul.
"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold," (Matt
24:12, NIV2)
Bosses tyrannizing employees, friends betraying secrets, a world where no one
has time to help one another, not even to visit their elderly parents, news that
is generally geared towards the morbid . . . Is it any wonder that love turns
cold? Even in our own homes?
It's true that infidelity has existed for centuries, an indication that, barrimg
a miracle, can never be considered trustworthy. Nonetheless, love is becoming
colder and colder as history progresses. One day we are deeply in love, the next
day we find ourselves hating one another, becoming strangers in the same home.
The rise of divorce and infidelity is an indication that we are truly stranded
and that our boat is quickly losing the battle. Does anyone truly believe that
marrying one woman after another will bring eternal bliss? Have we become
completely blind? Have we forgotten that love isn't just a feeling, it's a
life-long decision?
Just like a plant will perish without water, love will die if it isn't
maintained. However, in a world where our word no longer holds any value, it's
no wonder that depression and hopelessness are on the rise as well.
If our Heavenly Father had not intervened 2000 years ago, we probably would have
been completely annihilated by now. However, our Father did show up. We had
erred greatly, our heavenly marriage was completely ruptured. We had lost our
way, constantly looking for love and never finding it.
God showed what love truly is when Jesus willingly let Himself be crucified, his
arms wide open, reminding people that, "For as high as the heavens are above the
earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from
the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Ps 103:11-12, NIV)
Hope was revived. Love had come into our neighborhood, but still many preferred
the forbidden domain. Their reality isn't love, but, rather, selfishness: "I
deserve to be happy." "I only want to be loved!" However, are any of them truly
happy and loved? Without the miracle from our Heavenly Father, we would have
never known what love truly meant.
Love isn't just a feeling, it's a decision. Just like Jesus, who made the
decision to come to our planet with healing and the peoclamation of the Good
News about Real Love, who willingly decided to died on a lonely cross so that we
could experience real love and real happiness for eternity; in just the same
way, our earthly love is also a decision.
This came vividly to me when a grade eleven student came up on our church's
platform last Sunday. She was crying but felt she should share her testimony.
For eight months she had suffered terrible headaches and seizures. The doctors
couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. She often was tempted to give up.
Only one thing caused her to continue to hold on: love! Love from her family,
love from church members that kept her in their prayers, and God's love.
Love is powerful, but if not nurtured, it can die.
The girl ended by quoting the following text from 1 Cor. 13: "And now these
three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1Cor
13:13, NIV2)
In the next few months, we will discover how to build a marriage that will last
to eternity. There is hope, my friend. Never give up! Love is what will hold you
together!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.