This is a special day for those “in love.” For married couples, it is just another day of intentionally working at their marriage with a little bit of flare added to it or sadly for some, it is a “catch up” day or a day just passed by.
Nevertheless, the very symbol of Valentine’s Day really sums up the whole of married life….as well as everyone’s life. It is a heart issue. In other words, the heart of every issue is an issue of the heart. This speaks even to those of a broken heart today.
Jesus said, in answer to the lawyer’s testing question of what is the greatest commandment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22:37-39).
Before an unsaved, lost man can be born again (John 3:1-16) and then love God with all his heart, he must turn to Christ and receive Him as the Word of God clearly states. Until a man receives Christ as the only way to God the Father (John 14:1-6), he has no desire to love God (Romans 3:9-17). But when a sinner is born again, the perfect love of God is poured out upon him/her (Romans 5:5), and they understand the greatest love of all from the Creator and Sustainer of true love (1 John 4:7-19). No man understands or lives out genuine love until he comes to know God through Jesus Christ alone.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9-13).
For a married couple that knows and understands the love of God, the heart is still the issue of every facet of marriage. No matter what route or adventure marriage takes, loving God with all your heart is the answer.
Many years ago in Bible college, I was introduced to the simple marriage triangle.
This triangle simply teaches, the closer each spouse moves to God, the closer they move toward each other. The further each moves from God, the further they move from each other. Broken marriages always involve at least one partner moving away from God. Blessed marriages involve both partners loving God with all their heart, moving closer and closer to God. When you really love someone, you want to be with them. You want to move closer to them. You want to know them.
God created marriage, not man (Genesis 2:18-25). Therefore, if you desire to have a marriage that fulfills all that God intended and makes for a heart-filled Valentine’s Day every day, move closer to God through His Word, prayer, and worship; love Him with all your heart, and your neighbor (your spouse) in the same manner.
The heart of every issue is an issue of the heart.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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