As believers, many of us truly believe through living our faith that God wants us to ‘Live, Laugh and Love’ to the very fullest and most abundant way we possibly can not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day! We hear this saying often, written in script in books, portrayed in plays, the movies, on plaques sold in stores and displayed in homes and offices. But what does the Bible, the Word of God through its authors say about ‘Living, Laughing and Loving’?

The most important of these is the word: "Love”! Love is mentioned and appears in the Bible 745 times in 652 verses. Here’s how you can do all three of the above captioned ‘Words of Wisdom’ on this Valentine’s Day:

 

LIVE: "And always be filled with the Spirit”- Ephesians 5:19

 

LAUGH: "HE will fill your mouth with laughing and your lips with rejoicing”-Job 8:21

 

LOVE: "Give to everyone who asks or needs, and just as you want men to do to you, you do also to them likewise. Love those who do not love you, and your enemies. Do good to those hoping to receive in return nothing as your reward, and the Lord will be greatly pleased with you. Be merciful just as your Heavenly Father is, and He will be merciful also.”-Luke 6:30-36

 

Why not use this Valentine’s Day, and ‘Every Day,’ to rededicate yourself to the values of Live, Laugh and Love? Why not reach out to rekindle a friendship, or a relationship that has gone astray in your past? Why not make a call, send, and email or letter expressing your feelings? Why not apologize for a wrong, or embarrassment to someone? Think about how you might have felt if the shoe was on the other foot, and hopefully you and someone else will one day laugh about it all! Why not restart, rekindle, or relaunch a goal you started but didn’t finish, for one reason or another? And, lets not forget the most important reason we all celebrate is ‘Valentine’s Day! It’s a day of recognition for us to re-dedicate our love ,especially for our spouse, that very special person in our life, our family member, and those that hold that very special place in our hearts!

 

"To love is a choice”! We can choose to love someone or persons under all circumstances and that is the ‘heart’ of God’s ‘Covenant Relationship’ and not a ‘Consumer Relationship’!

 

In God’s ‘Covenant Relationships’, the good of the relationship takes precedence over the immediate needs of the individual, with relationships that are oriented around a commitment to love your partner and meet their needs. These types of relationships are based on a commitment to love, even if it means sacrificing your own needs for the benefit of your spouse, special person, family or friends.

 

In a ‘Consumer Relationships’, the individuals wants and needs are way more important than the relationship, and are oriented around the one or either individual only getting their needs met.

"Consumer’s Prescription” for relationships states:

 

1.) Find the seemingly right person

2.) Fall in love

3.) Fix all your hopes and dreams on the other person

4.) If failure occurs, repeat steps 1,2, & 3

 

God’s Covenant Prescription for relationships states:

 

1.) Become the right person, then meet the right person

2.) Walk in love and live a life of loving

3.) Fix your hope for the future on God and seek to please Him through this relationship

4.) If failure occurs, repeat steps 1,2 & 3

 

The consensus of scripture says, "that love directs our behavior,” with our spouses, families, friends and for those in need. God commands us to love! God is not speaking about a feeling, He is speaking about a behavior! (Ephesians:4: 29-32)

 

Live, Love and Laugh this Valentine’s Day, with all those near , dear and surrounding you every day! Know that God truly and deeply loves each and every one of us, in spite of who we are, where we have been in our lives, and whatever we have done as long as we believe in His son, Jesus Christ!

 

It is truly by His Grace we are saved ….by His Word we should live…..and by His Will we serve others…!.