The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

I love hearing people’s love stories. In fact, that’s one of my “asks”, not just for table-talk, but I sincerely love hearing how couples met, fell in love and got married. Maybe I’m living vicariously through their stories, and while I love a good on-screen love-story movie, there is nothing like real life ones. I know how widow women love it when someone asks us about our sweethearts and “our story”! Might I suggest that you give a widow or widower, and even couples you know, a real joy by requesting that they tell you their “story”! You’ll see a twinkle in their eyes when they start sharing. In fact, those embers in their fireplace just might be set ablaze again!

But, better than our own personal love stories, let’s think about how it goes with our “Jesus” love story, especially when we’ve been quite disappointed by the shifty, disappointing and untrustworthy “dates” we’ve had with others in the past. First, you hear about this "guy" from a friend. She tells you she wants you to meet him because he’d be perfect for you. You’re hesitant about meeting another guy who could let you down and disappoint you. But, she goes on to tell you that the two of you have so much common with each other because he knows disappointment and rejection too. He is kind and generous and forgiving. You agree to meet him, but you’re not quite sure so you remain cautious. The encounter is planned and the day comes when you get to meet him. He’s everything that your friend said he would be. But you’re not about to commit to someone you just met. Your friend encourages you to hang in there, find out more about him, and just spend some one-on-one time with him. You agree to another “date”. This time, something starts happening inside you. You start to get some emotions you can’t explain. You really, really like him…..a lot.

By now, you've met some of his family members -- and they are warm and welcoming and you like hanging around them, too. But, you’re just not a quick decision maker – especially when you think about a long-term relationship. By now, you can’t stop thinking about him because he seems to be everything you hoped for, dreamed for, and waited for. You spend even more time with him and when you do, you see that he’s a friend that you can talk to about any and everything. He “gets you”. He understands what you mean when you speak and he even knows what you’re thinking before you speak. Then, the day comes when he asks if you’ll be his forever and ever love, and there is no way you could say “no” – he has captured your mind, heart, and soul. You say, “Yes – I believe in you. My life is in you. My hope is in you. You are my beloved and I am yours.”

Honestly, this is MY Love Story. Jesus is my everything -- my hope for today and tomorrow. He never leaves me or forsakes me. And, I assure you, that this could be your Love Story, too!
Indeed, the greatest story ever told is that LOVE STORY – the story about God’s Son who left the portals of heaven to become one of us, first, as a little baby, then grow up and set the pattern for loving and living and serving others, and then to ultimately, die for us so that our Love Story lives on forever. The Bible tells us to "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" Psalm 136:1. "Steadfast love" describes a love that is unconditional and unchanging.

So as we enter into this holiest of seasons that we hear that Love Story over and over again, how should we respond? We can respond like the shepherds did on that first Christmas night, and like the Wise Men when they arrived at their home. They worshiped Him. We can rekindle this romance as we lean in closer to Him and bow our lives to Him in adoration for Who He is and all He has done for us. We can fall in love with Him again and determine to keep the “flames” of that first love we had for Him burning as brightly as the star that announced His coming over 2,000 years ago. Indeed, it is the "Greatest Love Story Ever Told"!