Mark spoke about love’s first kiss revealing love’s true form at the family service last night. Based on the ‘Shrek’ films, he recounted how Princess Fiona was cursed, so that by daytime she was a beautiful princess, but at night became a red-haired ogress, with the curse only being broken by love’s true kiss.
Shrek the ogre seemed an unlikely hero and rescuer, but they fell in love and their first kiss revealed her true form… only to discover that her true form is actually that of an ogress, not the beauty she had imagined would be hers. Fundamentally, the story turns traditional fairytales on their head, reminding us that inner beauty counts for far more than outward appearances and that true love does not always look like we think it should.
Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of God’s amazing love for mankind, represented by a father’s love for his wayward son and the kiss he bestows on him when he finally returns home. John 3:16 reminds us of God’s great love for us all and how God gave His only Son to remove the curse of sin and death, so that we are transformed from the inside out. Love’s true form may not make us look any different on the outside, but God changes our hearts and plants His love within us, for He is love (see 1 John 4:7-8). He enables us to manifest His love to others (see John 13:34-35), revealing love’s true form in us because Jesus is God’s first kiss on our lives.