by Gelly McAuliffe-Bunker
Love
So often a heart shape is shared to represent love. Today, Valentine’s Day, we will likely see hearts all around us. We may eat heart-shaped treats, receive heart-shaped cards, or see hearts in the sky or stores as we walk past. Love is in the air. Today is truly a day when love is celebrated.
But what does love look like?
For many, a heart is the first thing that comes to mind to represent love. Hearts are symbols we share to show our love. We may make hearts with our fingers. We may add hearts to our texts. We use hearts to encourage the ones we love, and to let them know that we are thinking about them. We project love through hearts.
Hearts even have special icons on social media. In fact, sometimes hearts are represented twice! With a simple heart we can demonstrate our passion, esteem or wholehearted agreement. Our hearts are in sync. By contrast, with a handheld heart we can show our empathetic concern or our loving support. This shows tender care toward the other’s heart.
Yet, what does love really look like?
It many ways, love truly looks like a heart!
No, I do not mean the reverse-triangular symbol used in cards and on social media. This is the heart which is so visible in so many ways today. No, in saying that love truly looks like a heart, I mean the real heart, the one which is invisible.
I am referring to the heart at work within you. This is a heart that looks more complicated, is three-dimensional, and may seem a lot less pretty. This is a real heart, a pulsing, robust, muscular heart. This is a heart that works hard in hidden spaces. It achieves what needs to be achieved, offering and giving what is required. It is a heart that maintains connections. This heart is symbolic of true love.
The human heart, by God’s design, is fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14). It moves nutrients to where they need to go. It accepts back what has been depleted, to refresh and to be released again. It is consistent. Your heart accepts and processes, cleansing and restoring. It is an instrument made for giving and receiving. It is part of God’s working order.
True love is like this heart. Love gives, thinking not of itself, but spending itself and being replenished in the perfection of God’s plan and purpose. It gives, without counting the cost. It works in rhythm, giving and receiving, and not just on certain dates, or in public ways. No, the heart gives at all times, in good times and bad, happy and sad. It does not draw attention to itself, or claim a larger role, it simply serves, providing and being replenished in a beautiful mutuality. Such is true love.
As Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Church reminds us:
“Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NET)
While I want to champion the human love that is self-giving and the human heart which is faithful, I do not wish to push the analogy too far. We know that the arteries and valves of the heart sometimes get clogged and malfunction. We know that blood flow may be diminished or cut off at some points. Similarly, the love which is meant to circulate may become twisted or cut off. Relationships which once provided a sure and steady flow of love can become weakened or dysfunctional. Pressures can diminish flow, or cause ruptures into new areas. Yes, hearts, like people, sometimes fail, but God is bigger than our hearts and lives. God’s love never fails (1 Cor 13:8).
Just as our human hearts take their place in the blood circulation system, love from God flows through us to others. We have our place by His grace, and can be His faithful instruments in ministering His love to others. In His hands, and for His glory, we can achieve amazing things. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39 NET)
Though human hearts may fail, and human love become eroded, God’s love is consistent. God is love (1 John 4:8).
Right now, put your fingers on your pulse. Feel that connection of life with your Creator (Gen 1:26-27). Know the power and heartbeat of His love (Eph 3:16-19). Even if others have withdrawn their love, God’s love is unfailing. If you have experienced a breakdown in love, re-commit to being a carrier of God’s love, re-connecting past the hurt and pain. Be an instrument of that love, with grace and wisdom. Let His love flow again through you.
Today, as you celebrate, or tolerate, St Valentine’s Day, remember the perfect love of the Father (John 3:16) and of your Saviour Jesus Christ (Rom 5:6, 8). Let us champion those who have been beautiful examples and carriers of God’s love. We praise God for them and, today especially, we thank them.
God is also calling us to be conduits of His love to others, releasing the love He continually pours on us. Be a faithful carrier, for His glory. However full or crushed your heart may feel today, or any day, let it be filled afresh with His generous, forgiving, patient, gracious, and hope-giving love (1 Cor 13:4-8). Live loved, and love generously, just as God has loved you.
Gelly McAuliffe-Bunker has a passion to share God’s love through His Word, and to encourage others to faithfully trust Him. Gelly is excited to be part of the ChaplainWatch ministry through volunteering and her part time role as a Chaplaincy Coordinator. Gelly also studies part time on a PhD in NT, exploring speech ethics. Gelly’s other main passions are writing, and combining running with capturing photos of God’s amazing creation. You can find her on Facebook as Gelly Nic.
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