When we approach February, our focus is on Love, at least that’s the encouragement for us as Valentine’s Day comes along. It occurs on the 14th of this second month of the year.
Christmas and holiday decorations from 2022 are barely put away; greetings for the New Year begin to fade as this so-called second month occasion occurs.
We regularly hear and read, “Love is the answer …” in personal greetings, songs, cards, online podcasts, videos, poems, and more. But what makes Love the only answer? And if Love is the only answer, does that make love great?
The conclusion may surprise you: love becomes the greatest it can be when it follows the pattern of God’s love for us, evidenced in the example of Jesus Christ. This love was only seen in sacrifice; it cost everything to become great … the price was the ultimate giving of life itself, to usher in new life: the true story and example of redemption through and on behalf of God’s love, demonstrated and proven to us in the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of His Son.
In 1988 I sought to dig deeper into this Love, striving to offer more historical and relevant meaning for me and others of what this love truly was. I was privileged to compose and copyright a song entitled Greater Love. Then, in 2016, I rewrote the song. I vividly recall struggling to “get it right” and, finally, succeeded. Another official copyright was obtained for this new version. Below is the 2016 song lyric I offer to you now.
Here are the song lyrics for your enjoyment.
Greater Love
Words and Music Glen Aubrey
© 2016 All Rights Reserved.
When a tiny seed falls to give its life
Eternal hope springs from its sacrifice.
And when Jesus died, giving all He could give,
He spoke new depth of meaning to the life He lived.
(Refrain) No greater love has one than this,
That a man lay down his life for his friends.
And even greater love is one as such,
Though we’re unworthy, Jesus died for us.
Every day brings its night, and night its day,
Unending through time in the plan God made.
And as birth and death share unending force,
The love of God, the Father guides us through each course.
(Refrain) A Greater Love, God’s gift through Christ,
Is assured through His great sacrifice.
Confronting every test, it shall prevail.
God keeps His promise: love will never fail.
(Bridge) Love would have suffered long and remained
A truth proclaimed yet void of pow’r
Were it not for one more act,
Giving life to hope, in fact,
That love arose to go on living,
Cutting short death’s reigning hour.
(Refrain) No greater love had God than this,
That His Son lay down His life for us all.
And even greater love is love as such,
Though we’re unworthy, Jesus died for us.
A greater love has none than this
That a man lay down his life for his friends.
And even stronger love is one as such
That Christ arose in power just for us!
For us.
On the surface, it may seem strange, almost a disconnect, to equate love with sacrifice, even death. Yet, when love becomes the only answer, that potential disconnect erodes into no disconnect at all; rather, just the opposite: a lasting bond. In the final analysis, true love and willing sacrifice are inseparably linked. Follow and pay close attention to the most profound illustration mankind has ever seen: in the example of Christ. One stanza in the poem above bears highlighting (underlining and accenting by the author):
Love would have suffered long and remained
A truth proclaimed yet void of pow’r
Were it not for one more act,
Giving life to hope, in fact,
That love arose to go on living,
Cutting short death’s reigning hour.
When the women ventured to the tomb of Christ, after He had risen, they witnessed firsthand the higher standard of true love in sacrifice. Death was conquered once and for all time. When Christ arose, He guaranteed the value and validity of love, His love, as the only answer.
The conclusion is this: February presents varied options of expressing love, some clearly devoid of life-giving truth, some anchored in much more. Enjoy Valentine’s Day, the cards, greetings, songs, and more. Remember, however, when we know true love in sacrificial giving, we know the eternal characteristics of love that never fail.
Expand on this thought and write a book on it. When you do, please submit your writing for review and possible publication, to Creative Team Publishing, addressing your entry and submission to: www.creativeteampublishing.com. We will respond after review.
Have a happy and meaningful February, the month of Love.
Let your expressions and emotions during this time be filled with God’s example
of His love in your life, shining on those around you.