The Perfect Love Story

Everyone dreams of that "perfect love story." A girl wants a hero to sweep her off her feet, and save the day. All over social media sites such as Twitter and Instagram you can find "relationship goals" posted. Movies, television shows, books, and music have depicted love in a certain way to where it seems perfect and flawless. Reality check: no relationship is perfect. Now, for those of you that say "Oh I know it's not. Tell me something I don't know" let me ask you this, is that ideal, perfect love obtainable? Yes, but with Jesus Christ. 

Before looking for that "soul mate" to spend your life with, fall in love with Jesus. Read the Bible daily and spend time with Him. The Bible is actually His love letter to us! He never changes, yet each encounter with Him is unique and fascinating. I can honestly say from personal experience that every time I receive a touch from God, it feels different than any time before. 

"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8

"We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

When Jesus died on the cross, it wasn't because He wanted to. In fact, Jesus specifically quoted in Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Jesus lived in the flesh just like we do every single day. He had temptations, struggles, and trials. He was tried by the devil in three specific incidents listed in the Bible, where Jesus used scripture to turn away from the devil. Despite these temptations, Jesus lived a perfect life. He was sinless, yet took our burdens upon himself so that we could be free. Why? Because He loves us. His love is never ending, and never failing. 

In my own life, it took me a long time to realize that His love truly is unconditional. I grew up hearing the stories about the Crucifixion and John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life" but I never really digested these words. That scripture was just a quick go-to when I needed to have a scripture memorized. It wasn't until one night when I listened to a few of my favorite songs, "He Knows" by Jeremy Camp, "This Man" by Jeremy Camp, and "How Can it Be" by Lauren Daigle that I truly began to see His love for me. Through the lyrics of these songs a message is delivered that talks about how God sees our hardships. That he knows when we cry, and that he knows what we've been through. He knows, Despite our mess ups, failures, and sin, God loves us anyways. He loved us so much, that He sent His ONLY son to die for us. Not only did He die, but he died in the most horrible way possible. And he did this for us, so that we can tell others about Him and share His love. We are supposed to love like Jesus, and forgive others no matter what they do to us. Love is so important.  A song that I really love quotes these verses from 1 Corinthians 13:

"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

 If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love."

The definition of true love is Jesus Christ. He laid down His life for us, and there is nothing we can do to repay that except to follow His Word. Being in love with Jesus is honestly the perfect love story. If you want successful relationships on earth, fall in love with Jesus first. I promise it will make life so much easier. 

Changing the World Around You

We are all influenced by the world around us. How we dress, how we talk, how we act. It's all influenced by who we're around and our perception of popularity. We all desire to fit in. No one truly wants to be completely alone in life. Maybe for a short time, which isn't a bad thing, but deep down we all have a longing to be wanted and be loved. This isn't technically a bad thing, but it can lead to it. Romans 12:2 tells us "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

My Pastor made a statement the other day during a Sunday morning service that actually got me thinking. He said that we as Christians should do more to influence the world, rather than allowing the world to influence us, and that is so true. Titus 2:12 " And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God." 

In our daily, busy lives we tend to allow ourselves to be surrounded by worldly things, which later on can influence us to make worldly decisions. Now don't get me wrong, we are supposed to love the sinner, regardless of their sin. We should be kind to one another, the way we would want to be treated, regardless of religion, race, or monetary stature. 

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Colossians 3:12-14 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Jesus spent time with the gentiles. He ate dinner with them, talked with them, and treated them as His own because THEY ARE HIS OWN. The unsaved may have turned their backs on God, but He still loves them unconditionally. We should love others just as God has loved us. 

1 John 4:9-11 "God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other."

Don't let the world conform you. We were born to stand out. God created us in His image, so that we can be examples for Him, and show His unending love, grace, compassion, and mercy to one another. Be a living testimony for others. You may be the only Bible they ever read.

 "Be the change you want to see in the world" -Mahatma Ghandi