For The One: Who Is Looking For Love

For the One: Who Is Looking For Love

To look for Love you have to know what you are seeking after. In a season of love, where it is told to be so many things- we must know what the characteristics of love are biblically.

You may be thinking that from the picture I used for this blog that I am going to just talk about mine and Cade’s relationship. I hate to disappoint on not sharing all the details of our love story, but I would rather share something more worthwhile than sweet stories. Despite the cute pictures you see on social media, dating can be really hard, and dating as a Christian is even harder. In the time and culture we are in, it could even feel impossible- and it would be if not for Jesus.

One of the first things the bible calls us to do is be patient in love (1 Corinthians 13:4.) There are so many ways to interpret ways to be patient with those you love; however, I want to talk about patience while dating.

Let's cut to the chase. Sex is the first Christians think about when it comes to the word patience or waiting in a relationship. I find it funny that it is such a taboo subject in the church, because it's something we all will experience. Sex is not an evil thing, because it was made by God. However, it can become an evil thing when we do it outside of God’s parameters. You may be asking, “Why does God ask us to wait until marriage? Shouldn’t it be with anyone I love?” My answer to this is no, because earthly love is fleeting, and the love you think you feel is probably lust. If you are unable to be patient and wait for God’s timing then it isn’t love. God tells us to wait because He knows feelings and minds change. God is our protector not our tyrant. He doesn’t want us to endure the pain that comes with doing things out of His perfect guidelines. The only love that will forever remain is Jesus' love. True love waits because true love protects. Our bodies are a temple of our creator.

I bet you’re thinking “easier said than done,” and you would be very right. As someone who has been waiting for 6 years, this is why we all need Jesus to help us. First, you and your partner have to be seeking Jesus together. If only one of you is on board, you will fail. You need someone who will be able to hold you accountable. Being equally yoked is not only seeking God together, but being able to catch each other when you fall into your flesh. Second, you have to have boundaries. I heard a pastor recently say, “if you’re wondering how close you can get to crossing the line, then your heart is not in the right place to begin with.” Maybe you’re like me and that didn’t really make sense to you. I used to think, “how is my heart not in the right place if I am trying not to sin?” On a tik tok video, of all places, is where I began to understand this. Imagine you're driving on the interstate with a wall or median beside you. You are not going to drive as close as you can to the wall, you're actually going to get as far as you can so you don’t scratch or crash your car. Our mindset for protecting our bodies before marriage should be the same. We do not get as close to the line as we can- we run from it.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside of the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.”

Let me encourage you to hold on strong, and to not fall into the trap of making compromises on Valentine’s Day. Do not listen to the lies. The “day of love” is not the perfect day to fall into lust. It is not true love if it does not honor God - who is love.

Love,

Jacqui

FTO Co-founder