Cards. Candy. Flowers. Gifts. Decorations. Special menus. There are many things in our culture that seem to have weight or make one feel special on a day labeled all about love. Some may think they “have everything they could want or need” if they are on the receiving end of the gifts listed above. Some may feel they are unseen or unloved if none of that comes their way. Others may think that love could be earned if they just buy the right item or make a big gesture. Our world distorts love when it is not based on and in Christ. Valentine or no valentine…No matter where you fall on that spectrum today, may you know how deeply loved you are! Lord, may our perspective and view of love be grounded in you today and always.
I praise God that no matter the holiday, no matter the season, no matter what earthly possession we have or don’t have, that His love…
…for us cannot be separated from us in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37-39)
…is a Father’s love for His children (1 John 3:1)
…is eternal and brings eternal life for whoever believes in Him (John 3:16)
…is Great (Ephesians 2:4-5)
…is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3)
…is unfailing (Psalm 109:26)
…demonstrates that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)
…is shown as He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9)
…one that allows us to love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)
More than just the nice words on the front of a card, may we be encouraged and stand on the Word of God:
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
May we receive and walk in the love that God has already poured out and is pouring out. May we respond to those around us and love one another (1 John 4:7) out of the love He has shown us.
May you be encouraged this weekend, and every day, by our Father’s love for us!
You are seen. You are valuable. You have been created by the Creator of all things and the Author and Finisher of our Faith!
Lord, may our gaze be set upon You!
He is worthy!
Walking worthy of the calling alongside you and for His glory,
-B
