Kingdom Bites

It wasn’t the same every year, and I can’t be certain it was always on February 14th, but my father always made sure he expressed his love for us during this time. I don’t recall all the ways he expressed his love for us over the years, but one Sunday near Valentine’s Day I can never forget. 

The car’s engine had barely stopped spinning, and I was halfway into our house. I couldn’t wait to get my “church clothes” off and get into something more comfortable. As I rushed in the front door and began to tear through house toward my room, I stopped. No, not by the voice of my mother telling me not to run in the house, rather by what I saw. 

Most Sundays after church, while mom and dad got dinner ready, it was the job of us kids to set the table with the “good (or Sunday) China.”  But not today; the table was already finished. Moreover, each place setting was topped off with ornate heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates. It didn’t take long to discern who was responsible for this scene; two clues gave it away. Dad’s plate was noticeably empty, while Mom’s plate was lost under the largest heart on the table.  Although Dad loved us all it was clear who was his Valentine. 

That didn’t matter, in fact in many ways it was refreshing to see how much my dad loved my mom. Besides, I know he loved me too. This clearly displayed how much by father thought of, cared for, and loved each of his five children. As I stood silenced by my Father’s actions, I felt loved - my dad thought of and cared for me. His actions plainly demonstrated it. I was special to him. I was my father’s valentine. In return, I couldn’t help but love him back. 

Yet, as wonderful as my father’s expression of love was, there is one Valentine’s gift greater still; given us by our Heavenly Father - the gift of Christ. I John 4:9-10 says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

The first Valentine ever given wasn’t a box of chocolates or dozen roses, it was God’s one and only Son. Jesus was sent not simply to be our teacher, example, or miracle worker; but as our replacement, our redemption, our salvation. Because of our sin, we deserve death and can never enter into the presence of God. Yet, because of His great love for us, God wasn’t going to let that happen. As a result, He did the only thing that could change our condition. He sent His Son, who was without sin to pay for ours. 

Out of perfect Love, God gave everything so we could be with Him. Christ not only took our sin, but God gives us His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  God’s Love not only paid our debt, but credited our account as well. 

Yes. The first and greatest act of love came from God. According 1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”  We are only able to love others, because God first loved us! For God is the origin and source of all true love. When one has experienced His Love, the response is simple; he can’t help but love God in return. Moreover, our ability and capacity to love others overflows from God’s love in us. As we experience God’s Redeeming Love, we are enabled and excited to extend it to those around us.

I’m not sure why, but my family hasn’t had the best luck when it comes to vacations. One year we rented a cabin on a lake; and it rained all week. Or the year we drove for hours to reach our hotel only to find they were overbooked and the spacious room we reserved was not available; and were forced to stay in a much smaller room and had to move into another the next morning. Wouldn’t you know it, this year our streak continued. No, it didn’t rain; and our room was nearly perfect, but it was bitterly cold. 

I know, what can you expect when you vacation in Minnesota during the month of January, right? However, after a season of warmer than average temperatures we hoped for more. Instead, we were greeted with one of the coldest weeks of the year. 

One morning, as we were preparing to leave for a day of activities, I headed out early to warm up our van. I even pulled it up to the front door of the hotel lobby so my family didn’t have to walk in the bitterly cold wind. As I sat there, shivering from the cold I thought to myself; “Now this is Ephesians Five Love,” self-sacrifice love. Not only was I braving the cold, sacrificing my warmth for theirs, but I did this while fighting a head cold and sore throat; I was convinced I deserved “Husband of the Year”! 

What is Ephesians Five Love you ask? Loving your spouse as Christ loves the church. Ephesians 5:25-27 reads: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Yes, Ephesians Five Love is a “Christlike” love. A love of sacrifice. A love of action. A love expressed unconditionally without exception or expectation of something in return. I was confident my love fitted within those criteria. But, was I really loving my wife just as Christ loved the church? The more I attempted to compare my love, my sacrifice, and my actions to Christ; I realized I wasn’t even in the same league. 

Christ sacrificed more by leaving the glories of heaven for the dullness of earth. He became human, and faced every temptation, struggle, and hardship we do; yet He never sinned. If that wasn’t enough, Christ willingly went to the cross, making the ultimate sacrifice: giving His life for ours. What makes this even more amazing is that He did this all for us while we were His enemies. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Christ’s sacrifice cost him exceedingly more than mine and offered something far better than a warm car. It paid for our sin, satisfying the wrath of God, restoring our broken relationship, and opening the gates of heaven. All done while we were hostile to Him. 

No, my gesture of love doesn’t compare to that of Christ’s; for showing Christlike love to your spouse means loving them when they are unlovable, serving them when it’s undesirable, and sacrificing everything for them regardless of how they act.

Hard? Yes. Impossible? No. However, we are only able to love like Christ if we have experienced Christ’s love. “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. Because of Christ’s love and sacrifice for me, I am able to love Him and my wife. May you experience Christ’s Love in your life, so you can extend it to others around you.

Yes, I was duly warned. My older sister was very clear in her explanation and warnings to me. Vanilla Extract does not taste good. Over and over again she admonished me, telling me not to drink it. But I refused to believe her. It just can’t be. I knew that it enhanced the flavor of many goodies my mother baked, and besides it smelled so good. She must be wrong, or worse yet she doesn’t want me to enjoy this treat. 

It wasn’t long before the pleasant aroma had convinced me. My sister must be wrong, How can something that smells so good be as bad as she describes? Besides, I could nearly taste the Vanilla on my lips. I raised the plastic bottle to my mouth and took a giant sized gulp. It never made it to my stomach. As soon as the liquid touched my tongue, I spewed it out and quickly attempted to rid my mouth of that horrible taste. 

Trying to control her laughter, my sister said with smile, “see I told you it tasted nothing like it smells.”  Many, many years later, I find myself still asking the same question “how can something that smelled so good taste so bad.” I learned a valuable lesson that day, looks can be deceiving. I do take comfort in knowing that I am not the only one who has learned that lesson; Lot did as well. 

In Genesis 13 Abraham and Lot had to part ways since their herds had gown too large to remain together. In verses eight and nine Abraham tells his nephew to choose where he would like to settle, and he, Abraham, would go in the opposite direction. He did just that; Genesis 13:10-11 says. Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east.

Yes, this land looked perfect. It was beautiful, large, and luscious; appearing to have everything Lot needed for his family and farm to be successful. However, instead of peace, growth, and success; his family experienced hardship, loss, and spiritual decay. It wasn’t long before war broke out in the region and Lot was captured; only to be rescued by Abraham. 

Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked and immoral cities and eventually were destroyed. The hedonistic and depraved life modeled in these cities undoubtedly had a profound effect on Lot's children, who later got their father drunk and slept with him order to conceive. Lot lost everything, his wife who was turned to a pillar of salt, his home and farm which was consumed in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the spiritual life of his family. The land that looked so good, proved to be so bad. Looks can be deceiving. 

What can we learn from Lot? What looks good to the eye, may not be good for the soul. Many things in life look appealing yet prove to be destructive. Seem innocent, yet rob our innocence. Physically appearing to offer the best life has, but causing spiritual decay and death. Let’s not be fooled by our flesh, captivated by the culture, or seduced by Satan; instead let us stand firm in our faith, letting God’s Word and His Spirit be our guide.