By Rabbi Linda
Many people will be celebrating Valentine’s Day, and the symbol the world sees is a heart for love. Movies and other entertainment fascinate the mind by psychological techniques such as Disney fantasy, Cinderella, and Prince Charming. It is easy to think one day I will grow up, fall in love, and marry a childs fantasy hero living happily ever after.
Some adults still believe in fairy tales. I am not saying this will not happen, but to be fair, on a scale from 1-10 how true is it? There could be a time when a man and woman meet, their heart skips a beat and they think, “wow I think I’m in love.” Emotions and imaginations go crazy, and it is exciting and interesting. However, it is based on infatuation and the superficial.
Many people love movies, fables, and fantasies and many put their faith in these popularized fantasies. We must face reality regarding the truth of love. Why is love symbolized by the human heart?
The dictionary defines heart: “muscular organ pumping blood through arteries and veins; intellect, emotion, innermost character.”
The Hebrew word for heart is “leb”, which means the inner part, seat of emotion, soul, mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, will, conscience, moral character, self-determining, self-directing.
“The heart is evil above all things and desperately sick, who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10
God created man he knows the heart and how it must be new to flow in love. It is sick from the fall of man. It needs redemption and you can be forgiven. – Acts 8:21:22 “Create in me a clean heart.” Psalms 51:10
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23 What is in your heart determines your eternal path. The heart must be renewed because of the fall of man.
Adonai said “I will give you a new heart, a new spirit and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh (heart of stone is spiritually dead) and give you a heart of flesh (heart of flesh spiritually life)” Ezekiel 36:26
I believe the symbol of the heart for love should represent a renewed heart in Yeshua flowing springs of life.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind soul, spirit.” What is love? “God is love.” (1 John 8:4-10) “For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have every lasting life.” John 3:16
Many religious people will celebrate Purim together with Jewish people, February 27, celebrating life from death marked by the Persian rulers. Commemorating the Love story of God, Esther, King Ahasuerus, Mordecai. Evil Haman hated the Jews, because they would not worship him. Haman devised a plot to wipe out the entire lineage of Gods people. The very people Yeshua (salvation) would come through.
“Love conquers evil. Love is patient, kind, longsuffering, forgiving, endures all things, rejoices in truth, lasting for eternity. Faith, hope, love, the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:2-13.
Yeshua laid down His life for you because He loves you. “Many waters cannot quench love neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” Song of Solomon 8:7
“Finding myself alone I could not rely on fantasy love. Never leaving me I entered his love. Lifting me up. I saw two sets of footprints. He was carrying me in his arms, I kissed the son of God and he armed me with his love. He handed me His cup to share. He said will you marry me (spiritually covenant) I said yes, He rejoiced and showered me with gifts from above. His scepter held out to me your desire my love ask of me Your wisdom my love to committee to you now I know I’m my beloved and my beloved is mine.”
Word for today –Ani L’ Dodi, V’ Li : “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. Song of Solomon 6:3”
-Rabbi Linda