The Greatest Valentine

The words “I love you” engraved on a red valentine can send our hearts racing with joy when received from someone special. Candy, flowers, cards, teddy bears….all send the message of love to those we cherish on Valentine’s Day. When I moved recently, I came across a scrapbook of Valentine’s cards I had received as a small child. They had been special to me then and they were heartwarming to read many years later.

Valentines and expressions of love are endearing, but our greatest Valentine came from God when He sent us His love in the form of His Son, Jesus. God loves us more than anyone else! The Bible tells us about His love in a familiar verse, John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV) How great is that love! He even sent us a love letter – His Holy Word, brimming with hundreds of scriptures about love.

But how loosely we use the word “LOVE”! I LOVE my family. I LOVE my church. I LOVE my favorite TV show. I LOVE chocolate! We have so many degrees of love in our lives that I’m afraid we may inadvertently degrade real abiding love. God’s love is very real and specific to us. 1 John 3 tells us How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! and This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. (Verses 1, 16 NIV) That’s true love!

As we celebrate February 14^th this year, let’s take the time to contemplate what we truly love and cherish and be thankful for those blessings. Let’s also spend time reading God’s Word – His love letter to us- allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal truths to us. But most of all, let’s not overlook the love of Jesus…the greatest Valentine!

“Jesus loves me this I know….”Happy Valentine’s Day!