Saint Mark Daily Lenten Devotional – March 11, 2015

by Eric Norman

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8: 1-13 (This passage speaks of the relationship between knowledge and love, and how we might perceive their value and their use.)

Love is a funny thing.  Our concept of love seems to morph into different things when we think about it. The concept itself is difficult for us to hold in our minds – it’s slippery, mercurial.  What is love?  How do we know it exists?  We seem to be able to describe love not as it might be given or received, but as the characteristics we can associate with it.  For instance, we can describe love as being overwhelming, or perhaps we might say love is pleasing or elusive.  Sometimes our awareness of love is strongest when we feel its presence or absence.  I’ve often found myself saying things like “I know it when I have it” or “I’m not feeling the love today”.

I’ve been thinking about love a lot lately.  I have love for my wife, my friends and (parts of) my family, although the love I have for my friends is very different than the love I feel for my wife.  And though they are quite different, I know these feelings are real.  I also know I am loved.  There is no doubt in my mind that my wife and my friends love me. It’s something I carry with me whether I’m with my wife or my friends – or not. 

Interestingly, the dictionary lists love as both a noun and a verb.  And though the definitions are very similar, I am convinced that love is active, much more a verb than a noun.  In my view, we feel love most when we give it; and the love we feel is amplified by the love we allow ourselves to give.

Prayer: Lord, I pray you grant us each the unending capacity to love.  And in this way you create and recreate each of us in your image. Amen.

Saint Mark United Methodist Church