The Look of Love
February 1
Quote: "A teachable heart grows wise, not old." Jan Carlberg
When the calendar turns to February, my mind turns to red paper hearts, edible conversation hearts and quotes on love. It is a happy holiday for those in love or those too young to care about having a lover...you know, the ones just wanting some candy, heart shaped cookies or pretty Valentines.
My mind always shifts to those who are looking for love and I try to think up ways to make them feel loved. I will share some of those as the month goes on.
As we launch into love thoughts the best way I know to start is to look at some of the top love stories in the Bible. There is a website called: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com.
We will kick off this month taking a look at their top five picks of great love stories in the Bible and ask God to teach us something about how we love and how we long to be loved from these stories.
#1 Jacob and Rachel- An Old Testament Love Story
After Jacob ran away from his brother Esau, he went to live with his mother's family in Haran. While looking for his uncle Laban, Jacob met Rachel, Laban's daughter. She was caring for her father's sheep. Rachel took Jacob to Laban who gave Jacob a job and a place to stay. Jacob negotiated with Laban to work for him for seven years. In return Laban, would give his daughter Rachel to Jacob as his wife. The Bible says in Genesis 29:20, "And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her."
At the end of the seven years Laban offered his daughter's hand in marriage. However, at the wedding Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, the older sister. Because, he said, it was not right for the younger daughter to marry first. The Bible says that Jacob continued to work for Laban another seven years to be able to have Rachel as his wife.
Jacob originally consented to a seven year contract to wed the girl he loved. Even after the deception, he continued to work another seven years for the hand of Rachel.
Thoughts...so 14 years Jacob worked to be able to wed Rachel.
It is about the same amount of time parents invest in the lives of their children to get teenagers!
It is much longer than most people invest in the education needed to launch their careers.
It is longer than some marriages last.
It is less time than it takes for most of us to begin a sincere love relationship with Jesus.
???????
What are the things you have invested more than fourteen years into at this point in your life?
Why have you stuck with it?
How many years did God wait for you to start loving Him?
If a love relationship with Christ isn't active and flourishing, start it today!
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:4-5
