Hi Friends!
Only two more days until Valentine’s Day!!!
Can you tell I am just a bit excited?
I love this time of year!
Actually, I love loving on people all the time – any excuse
to get creative and do something nice: Buy a gift, cook a meal, bake a cake … you name … I’m all
in!
AND, NOW – we
continue our discussion on LOVE
YESTERDAY – we
talked about how LOVE IS NOT LIKE LUST … AND LUST IS NOT LOVE
TODAY, we will
be focusing on the second area of what love is not like –
SO – where do
we begin in evaluating what love is not like?
WE START AND END
RIGHT HERE … LOVE IS NOT ‘LIKE’
This is important because many people confuse ‘like’ with
love
And others think that love is dependent upon ‘like’
So,
let’s get the confusion part out of the way first since it is easiest to tackle
If someone says, ‘I like you’ – it is a pretty safe bet
to take that at face value
The have communicated they like you – AND THAT IS
ALL
If they have not even communicated that … be realistic!
When someone says ‘I
love you’ – however – this is a different situation
It can often be taken more serious than ‘I like you’ –
However, there should still be some
corresponding action
After all, some people will say anything:
To avoid hurting your feelings, to make you feel good or
to get what they want
NOW – I am not
one for playing games
I don’t play them with people and my expectation is that
they not be played with me
Generally speaking – I say what I mean and I mean what I
say
I do not believe in playing cat & mouse, hiding &
chasing games.
THAT BEING SAID
HOWEVER –
I still hold onto something my pastor has shared in the
past: ‘The proof is in the pursuit’
UNDERSTAND THIS –
WHAT WE WANT – WE GO
AFTER – WE PURSUE IT
When we want to
spend time with someone;
Even if we cannot find an extra minute in our day under
normal circumstances;
We will ‘find’ time to be with that individual.
Things and relationships which are a priority to us get prioritized
in our lives
If we ‘like’ someone – we might not put forth the
additional effort
But if we ‘love’ someone – we are like me with Valentine’s
Day – WE ARE ALL IN!
We make a conscious decision and are intentional in
ensuring 'talk' with a 'credible walk’
So, ‘LOVE is LOVE’ and ‘LIKE
is LIKE’ and we must not get the two confused
This brings us to
the second half of our discussion on
‘LOVE IS NOT LIKE…’
AND THIS IS IT ... LOVE IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON ‘LIKE’
I always found it so sweet when I would listen to my pastor
talk about how he would get off work and then drive many miles just to spend a
short time with the beautiful woman who is now his wife. His story of pursuit was
not a situation based upon game-playing; it was a story of commitment and
determination. He may not have ‘liked’ the tiredness, the long
drive or the distance between them. But he ‘loved’ her and that took
precedence. I believe he understood what I am hoping to convey today.
LOVE IS NOT LIKE and LOVE IS
NOT DEPENDENT UPON ‘LIKE’
Once you are in a
committed relationship [marriage or serious dating] –
It is important to understand that love is not like and
it is not dependent upon it
We talked about love yesterday and how love is a choice
and a resolve.
This is important because there will not always be romantic feelings
And during these times, it will be necessary to rely upon
the unconditional & intentional aspect of love
Love is mature
when ‘like’ does not get its way and wants to behave childishly
Love says ‘I’m sorry’ even when it feels it was wronged;
when it does not like how it was
treated
Love stays when ‘like’ walks out the door.
Love gives even when ‘like’ has faded because it feels
the other person is selfish
I may not ‘like’ what someone says or does but
that does not determine my ‘love’ for them
I can ‘not like’ you [at the moment] and
still ‘love’ you [with a lasting love]
LOVE IS NOT LIKE and LOVE IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON ‘LIKE’
The problem arises
when LIKE is made to be equal with LOVE
This is when people start making decisions which have
far-reaching consequences
· I do not like my spouse [today]; therefore, I no
longer have to honor the [everyday] love commitment that I made?
· I do not like the way my mate looks; so I can
allow my eyes to wander?
Absolutely Not –
Love honors even when it does not like; ‘love’
stays focused when ‘like’ is waning or fleeting
In my book, When Storms Rage, when discussing
the need to Count the Costs,
I discuss how Jesus set the perfect example for us;
‘for
the joy set before Him, Christ endured the cross’ Hebrews 12:2
He possessed a ‘complete
and proper perspective which enabled Him to endure…’
The love Jesus had for God and for
humanity [for us] overrode the dislike of His situation
Yes – that is
an extreme example.
Generally speaking, no one
is being asked to lay down their life.
But – you might
be required to lay down your pride;
Which can be harder [for many of us] than dying.
LOVE IS GREATER
THAN LIKE
So, never allow
‘like’ [or dislike] to stand in the way of how you respond in ‘love’
And, never forget LOVE IS NOT LIKE – AND LOVE IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON ‘LIKE’
Praying You Have a Blessed Evening!
Wishing You Much Love …