Devotions

Endless Love

We must admit every once in a while that we enjoy a good love story, or a “chick flick” as men call them. Some of us are just suckers to see a man and a woman fall in love despite all obstacles. I’m sure you can even recall some famous love stories that have come and gone throughout history. Remember when Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married? Millions of people watched their wedding on television. Their marriage was the talk of the town, or literally the world, for a number of years. Or what about Ricky and Lucy Richardo, Samson and Delilah, Sean Penn and Madonna, Sonny and Cher. All these couples had interesting love stories, but they share a common factor. They couldn’t find a way to make their love last through their problems. Either they didn’t really love each another from the beginning, or unforeseen circumstances ended their love, or they just didn’t know how to keep their love alive. It would seem that something was missing from their relationship.

There are other couples such as George and Martha Washington, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, George Burns and Gracie Allen, George and Barbara Bush, whose love weathered the storm. But was there something missing from even these wonderful love stories?

Every Christmas we read in Matthew the love story of Mary and Joseph. There were three steps in a Jewish marriage. First the family agreed to the wedding and then it was announced. At this point the couple were pledged to each other. Although sexual relations were not permitted, their relationship could only be broken through death or divorce. Then the couple was married and began living together. But Mary was pregnant before she and Joseph were married. Her apparent unfaithfulness carried a severe social stigma. Joseph was faced with a difficult choice. He knew that taking Mary as his wife could be humiliating. But God sent an angel reassuring him that the baby Mary carried had been conceived of the Holy Spirit. Mary and Joseph knew the truth that they had done nothing improper sexually. But the stigma and social implications of this pregnancy would probably haunt them throughout their lives. People would whisper behind their backs, “Well, I hear she was pregnant with their first child before they were married.” Tongues would cluck, heads would wag. 

Mary and Joseph shared an endless love that overcame all. What makes them different from many of the other great love stories that have stood the test of time? The difference is that not only did Mary and Joseph love each another, they also loved God and put their complete trust in Him. They knew that He would help them overcome whatever came their way. The outcome of their trust, faith and love in God would bring forth a Son that would “save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). When God is in the center of our relationships with others, we can overcome whatever obstacles are put before us. God is our perfect example of unconditional, unfailing and endless love. He loved us so much that He put His only Son on a cross to die so that whoever believes in Him may be saved (John 3:16). God gives to us His endless love, which in turn makes it possible for us to have loving relationships with others.