Be Mine!

 

  Valentine’s Day.  What should it mean?  Researching its history brought up some uncertain and dark possibilities for its origins.  Perhaps someone tried to redeem it from its past.  Today it has become quite commercialized.  And, like any other day, can be used for good or bad.  To use it for good, what should it mean?

  We identify Valentine’s Day with love.  Is love always good?  Many are not aware that there are many definitions for “love”, not all good.  There are at least six separate variations of “love” that might have been translated into our word “love” in our Bibles.  Each is actually a different word.  They include Agape, Eros, Ludus, Philautia, Philia, and Storge.  The following definitions for each are the result of an AI Overview:

· Agape:  The Greek word for unconditional, divine love, often considered the highest form of love.

· Eros:  The Greek word for romantic or passionate love, often synonymous with “marital love”.

· Ludus:  The Greek word for playful love, or flirtatiousness, seduction, and sex without commitment.

· Philautia:  The Greek word for self-love, or recognizing your self-worth and personal needs.

· Philia:  The Greek word for intimate love, or the strong emotional bond in deep friendships.

· Storge:  The Greek word for family love, or the affection between parents and children, or siblings.

(By the way, beyond the above AI definitions, things are further complicated by those who wish to give their own definitions to love and hate.)

 

  Where should we learn how to love?  For Christians, it is in the Bible.  Even though the Bible translates several different words into our word “love”, we can tell by the context what it is saying.  (Don’t look for teachers who tell you what you think you want to hear.)

  There is way too much of the Bible to cover to describe how we are to love.  In fact, the Bible’s theme is love.  So, what follows is a summary of a few points, giving just one or a few Bible references for each.  (Look honestly into the Bible yourself for proof or more info, if so inclined):

· God is love:  Psalms 36:7, 1 John 4:7-16, Ephesians 3:17-19

· God created marriage and sex to be fulfilling:  Genesis 2:18, Luke 11:9

· Sex is honorable, but in marriage only:  Hebrews 13:4

· God designed marriage to be a male-to-female relationship:  Jude 1:7, Romans 1:26-27

· Christians should only date and marry Christians:  Genesis 28:1, 2 Corinthians 6:14

· Struggle resisting sex?  Marry:  1 Corinthians 7:2-9

· To withhold sex from your spouse is sin:  1 Corinthians 7:5

· Marriage should reflect loving relationship with Christ:  Song of Songs, Ephesians 5:22-33

· The greatest love (Christ gave it):  John 15:13, Romans 8:31-39

· Hear Christ say Be Mine!:  John 3:16, 13:1, Romans 8:36-39, Revelation 3:19-21, 19:1-9

 

   So, love God’s way, Valentine’s and every day.  And May God Bless You!