4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 NLT

The month of February is known as the month of love. Many get excited in anticipation of what they will receive from their significant other on February 14th. During this month florists make their biggest profit due to the over whelming amount of gifts people order as an expression of their love for that special some one.  People are excited with great anticipation of what they will receive from their love. I think back over the past Valentine’s many of which I had so desired to receive a gift from a special someone but didn’t and how that made me feel. I spent the entire day of February 14th feeling sad and alone, not realizing that I had already found the greatest love of my life and He showers me with tremendous gifts each day.  I realize that I have found the greatest love of my life a long time ago; and just did not understand how He truly loves me. You may be wondering who I am speaking of, the greatest love of my life is God. He gave his only son, Jesus as ransom for my sins. Jesus was hung and died for me. He was beaten and mistreated for me. He gave His life for me. Have you found a love like this? I promise if you continue to read on, you will be blessed. You may be asking yourself, how can being loved by God, measure up to being loved by someone who is tangible. See God loves in such a way that He has set us up to receive the greatest, best, and most fulfilling love in our physical relationships. 

For many years I prayed to God and would tell him exactly what type of man I wanted to fall in love with and have in turn love me. I gave God this laundry list of physical, socio-economical, and educational requirements that the love of my life should have, not realizing and truly understanding that my God does not need a list of attributes for the love of my life; because He is the love of my life and the man He chose for my husband will love me just as God loves me; with the greatest love of all. If you catch this point I am sure you will be blessed. God does not need your list of requirements when it comes to presenting you with the love of your life. The reason that this list is not needed is because God loves you, created you, and knows the most intimate desires of your heart. God has created his love for you in the form of (man) or (woman) so that they can love you with God’s love just as God loves you. Reality Check: If you feel that you have found the greatest love of your life in the form of (woman) or (man), let me ask you this. Does he or she love you in spite of you? Does he or she remain patient with you? Does he or she give way to compromise? Is or she forgiving of your wrongs? Does he or she stick with you through it all? If you answered no to any of these previous questions, then you have not found the greatest love of your life in the form of (man) or (woman). Keep praying and let God bring you into the presence of one another.  As you are waiting and praying for God to present to you your greatest love; keep the following in mind.

1- Your greatest love will have a relationship with God.  One of the greatest commandments given to Israel was; Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts (Deuteronomy 6:4-6). This is a measuring cup for your love, if your greatest love, does not have a love for God, you must continue to keep praying and wait.

2- Your greatest love will be a reflection of God’s love.   As the opening scripture reads; love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, boastful, or proud… Your greatest love is able and willing to bear with you in/through all things. Your greatest love will be gentle when loving you and respectful towards you. Your greatest love will reflect the love of God in the way that he/she loves you.

3- Your greatest love will resolve their relationship with you through their relationship with God.  When you have found your greatest love; that love will manifest the love of God in relation to you.  This love will never give up, it will never loose faith, it will always be hopeful, and it will endure (1 Corinthians 13:7). Your greatest love will resolve to (deal with you successfully).  You will know you have found your greatest love when you are able to recognize their way of loving you is in the same manner that God loves you.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, reflect over the love that you desire, currently are seeking, or may have lost and ask yourself does that love mirror (look like) or reflect the love of God. It is when you can say that your current love reflects the love of God, you have found your greatest love.