He Thinks I'm to Die For

"And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her."

Genesis 29:20

   How sweet is that? I was reading through the book of Genesis a while back, and I stumbled upon this verse, nestled quietly amidst the story of Jacob. Though I have read Jacob's story in the book of Genesis many times, and can say he was greatly used of The Lord, I wouldn't exactly call him a prime example of a man of God. He was a liar, a deceiver, a cheater, and he seemed to be a rather selfish, manipulative man. But, despite these bad qualities, he did know how to go after a girl and conquer her heart. The Bible tells us that Jacob loved Rachel so much, that he ultimately dedicated 14 years of his life to proving that love to her and her father. That's pretty intense, isn't it? I mean, what girl wouldn't want to be loved and wanted that much? 

      I witness so many girls who would give anything to be pursued like that. To be wanted, to be loved, and to feel like they are worth enough to be sought after without reserve. They seem desperate, even. Society constantly bombards them with unrealistic expectations of what it thinks they should be, and how it thinks they should be, and if they do not conform themselves to this low excuse for standard, they are labeled as fat, ugly, abnormal, strange, stupid. They are beaten down, made to feel worthless and inadequate. This makes them feel as if they must snatch up any chance to feel wanted and accepted, even if it is from the wrong source, for the wrong reasons. Most times, it costs them more than they ever dreamed it would. Girls will enter a relationship, looking for this acceptance, craving that special kind of love that makes them feel "good enough", the kind that makes them feel cherished, the kind that makes them feel like they are worth the whole world... The kind of love only one person can give them. 

      Jacob was only a man. He wasn't perfect. Did he love Rachel? Oh, very much so. But he failed her. Perhaps more times than we know. His love wasn't perfect as no one's love is perfect. No one will ever love you the way you need to be loved, the way you want desperately to be loved. No one, that is, but Jesus. He loves you enough, that he felt you were to die for. After everything you might have done to hurt him, yet He still thought you were worth enough to die for. So He did. He died for you. And all you must do is accept that fact. Accept it, and admit that, on your own, you aren't anything. On your own, everything you will ever do is for naught. Why? Because He already did everything for you. In Him, you are complete. In Him, you have all that you could ever want. Won't you simply trust Him today?

 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

{Romans 8:38-39}