Morning Devotional
January 26, 2003
“Random Thoughts on Love”
by Don Emmitte

I suppose this morning’s thoughts are somewhat early in the calendar, but I was drawn to them with the approach of February and Valentine’s Day. Throughout history, man has expressed his thoughts on the concept of "love," sometimes, perceiving it as something wonderful, beautiful, and intense and other times, expressing the sorrow and anger caused by love scorned. Whatever the case, no one can deny that love is a powerful energy and emotion, so intense in fact, that mothers have immediately been overcome with Herculean strength to lift a car or huge boulder off their child.  

Here are some random thoughts from others on love: 
Ø      "Love is not what makes the world go round. Love is what makes the trip worthwhile." -Franklin Jones
Ø      "When two people are at one in their innermost hearts, they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze, and when two people understand each other in their innermost hearts, their words are sweet and strong like the fragrance of orchids." -I Ching
Ø      "Love should be a tree whose roots are deep in the earth, but whose branches extend into heaven." - Bertrand Russell
Ø      "Man has no choice but to love. For when he does not, he finds his alternative lies in loneliness, destruction, and despair." -Anonymous
Ø      "Loving people are happy, and happy people are loving." - Ken Keyes
Ø      "Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law." - Boethius
Ø     "Love is the only gold." -Tennyson  

Man may try to understand love and all its effects, but unless he knows the love of God, one can never fully know love, for God IS love, and the gift He gives to us, its foundation, is constructed in love. It is nice to show our affection to those we love by sending them flowers and candy, or doing kind deeds for them, but true love is not about fleshly desires, or emotions that make our physical bodies feel good, but it feeds the spirit as only God and His son, Jesus Christ can do. Love has one source and this source is God. Think on the following words of the Apostle Paul this morning: 

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:1-7 NLV). 

Roses and chocolates notwithstanding, let that kind of love be your gift to those around you!