“This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers…
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth.”
- I John 3:16-18
This Saturday is Valentine’s Day. Americans will purchase 110 million roses (mostly red), 1 billion cards, 8 billion conversation hearts, and more than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. Add to that, dinner-out, teddy-bears, jewelry, and numerous other gifts; and Americans will spend a total of $17 billion on Valentine’s Day. The average consumer will spend over $100 on their “valentine” – myself included. Why? We want to express our love to that special “valentine” in our life.
Have you considered lately how much God loves you? You are the apple of His eye. You are His special valentine. And, God demonstrated His love for you with more than a card or a flower or a box of chocolates. Jesus stretched out His hands on the cross and said, “This is how much I love you!” He gave His life for you. He gave the ultimate valentine!
May you and I, as God’s children, be a reflection of His love. May we love others as He loved us!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your amazing love
which Jesus demonstrated in laying down His life for me.
I pray that I might reflect Your unconditional and sacrificial love
in my everyday relationships.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
February 15, 2009 at 5:07 am |
When I first read this I realized that I never thought of Jesus being the ultimate Valentine’s present. After thinking about it more, I realize just how profound it is.
Just as it was written above, we as a nation show our love and affection for someone by buying them a present, flowers or chocolate. Me, I bought my wife a Starbucks card and flowers, which beats chocolate any day.:-)
Honestly, the more I think about it the more I think maybe that wasn’t what I should have done. Jesus didn’t buy us a present, he gave us himself. Time after time after time the New Testament describes how He really cared about people.
How do you really show someone you care: Time. It is the one thing most of us wish we had more of, but we all have the same 24 hours in day. The difference is what we do with it.
We say, “I love you,” but if our actions do not show it then they are empty words falling on deaf ears. So to make sure that my wife knows I love her I am going to give her more time. Starting right now.
February 19, 2009 at 3:28 pm |
D, if we give our time to the one we love, this would imply that if we truly loved God we would give him our time.
On Sunday mornings in church, we are a friendly bunch, but through the week does this love impact others to come to our churches?
Do our Sunday Schools have trouble keeping the right amount of teachers? Do people keep their promise and come to small groups?
If we truly loved God, the way we say, giving time to him would be the first of our fruits, instead of the last.