The Strength of Love

"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned." (Song of Solomon KJV)

Oh the supreme value of love! Virtue of virtues is true love.

"God is love." (I John 4: 8) And, he is "the real thing," not some imitation of love.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (I Corinthians 13: 1-8 NIV)

We do not love God naturally. Naturally we rather are born with an inner hate and rejection of God, a predisposition to oppose and resist him. (See Ephesians 2: 1-3 and Psalm 51: 3) We have no love for God springing from our carnal natures. In order to "fall in love with God" one must have God to "woo" and "draw" him. The sinner is responsible to not resist God's gracious work, for he seeks to "win the heart" of his enemies. Will you "surrender" to God and have him fill your heart with his love?

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us..." (Titus 3: 3-5 NIV)