Today is Valentine’s Day, a great day to be in love. Unfortunately, I feel convicted because I don’t express my love to my wife, Martine, everyday as I do on Valentine’s Day. But today, we are reminded about romance. Like other holidays in our society this one has become too commercial. But it can still serve as a reminder to us about the beauty of true romance.
No matter how we try to describe or define romance, even with the help of the best greeting card, it remains an awesome mystery. However, as with all aspects of life, the Bible remains the real source of the essentials of romance … the truth. In Solomon’s Song of Songs, we get a glimpse of the mystery and power of romance. In this most evocative description of romantic love we are taught that it means intimacy, connection, and intense emotional excitement. We see that deep affection inspires desire and complete appreciation for another … that being romantic means to pursue, at all costs, the object of our affection.
Isn’t that what Jesus did? Didn’t he pursue us all the way from heaven down to a dirty manger, giving up kingship to be subjected to a bunch of inferior, knuckleheaded humans, giving up His life very painfully? And the worst was being on the cross for 3 hours in spiritual separation from His Father and the Holy Spirit after having been intimately and eternally intertwined with them until that point. He willingly endured all that to be in a passionate and intimate relationship with each one of us.
The book of Hosea tells how we stray after superficial one-night stands, yet God still loves and pursues us. Oh, how He is saddened when we reject Him, just as our hearts break when we are rejected by others. (And we haven’t given Him even 1% of what He gives for us.) The most important thing we learn in Hosea is that God intended romance on Earth to culminate in the unbreakable bond of married love. It is a shame what we have reduced marriage, love, and sex to be instead of following God’s plan for how romance really plays out and is fulfilled. We miss so much blessing and fulfillment when we stray from His plan.
Today, in addition to or as a replacement for the card, flowers and candy, read passages from Song of Songs to your Valentine. Our Lord and God would not have provided us with this scriptural celebration of love and romance unless He intended it as an inspiring example for us. And then think about what God and Jesus willingly sacrificed and regularly do for you … to romance you. Why wouldn’t you romance them back? Your decision, choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God,
I thank You for the blessing of romantic attraction. I pray that all who are part of the Stepping Stones community would pursue their spouse and partner joyfully and creatively for all the days of their lives in a way that is pleasing to You. I pray this in the name of the one whom You sent to teach us how to love, Jesus Christ; And all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
My beloved is mine, and I am his...
Song of Solomon 2:16
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
Song of Solomon 8:6
