GOD HAS SENT YOU

 A VALENTINE!

Yes, God has sent you and me a Valentine, and it is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Valentine’s Day is upon us once again.  We see in the stores the hearts, candy, and all the signs of the day approaching.  It is a time of love, cupids, and flowers for the ones we love.  The signs of Valentine’s Day appeared on the shelves before even the Christmas decorations were put away for the year.  But do you know the significance of God’s love? 

During the Christmas season we celebrated God’s Son, coming as a baby.  We saw Him in the manger, angels adoring Him.  But again, that was all about God’s love in sending His son, His Beloved Son.  How can we fathom the deep love of Jesus?  How can we comprehend that He loved us so much that He went to the cross, suffered and died for you, for me?  So, it is not about candy hearts, red bouquets, chocolates and enduring cards to one another, it is all about His love for you and me, His own Valentine of love to you.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

God loved us so much, that He had a plan before the foundation of the earth. (See Revelation 13:8)  There when He created the earth in all its beauty, and man sinned, God had a plan.  He had a “Lamb” chosen.  And that “Lamb” would be slain for our sins.  All through the Old Testament offerings we see the picture of the “Lamb.”  Every time a lamb was slain on the altar, it pictured the Lord Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that would be made at Calvary. 

Here are the words of an old chorus we used to sing, and it reminds us of His great love. FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD:

“For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, to die on Calvary from sin to set me free, someday He’s coming back, what glory that will be, wonderful His love to me.” (Author Unknown)

As you see the red hearts of Valentine’s Day, be reminded of God’s big heart of love beating for you and for me.  He is our Father waiting to gather us into His loving arms.  Wherever you have strayed, my friend, He is waiting for you. 

“God showed us how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.  This is real love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)

And at Calvary, He demonstrated His ultimate love for us, by sending His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to die on that cross for our sins.  Because of His great love, we can have eternal life with Him.  That is the greatest gift of love that anyone can receive, all you have to do is ask Him to forgive your sins and accept Him by faith.

When we think about God’s love we can explain it this way:  God creates because He loves, and He created each of us to love.  God cares because He loves us, and He loves the sinner, and longs for that person to love Him in return and serve Him.  God created us to be free to choose, and He longs for us to choose Him to serve.  His love is why Christ died.  His love caused Him to create a solution to the sin problem, in the sending of His Son as atonement for our sin.  And God’s love extends to us eternal life, so we can live with Him forever. That is God’s love.

“The LORD has appeared of old to me saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.”  Jeremiah 31:3

God’s love is everlasting, never failing, as our God is faithful.  And with His loving kindness He draws you to Himself.  So as you look on the cards and hearts you receive, remember the sweetness and love of our God.  Look on the red hearts and be reminded of the blood of Jesus, which cleanses us from all sin.

In this poem, remember that if you doubt His love, feeling rejected, and you don’t hear it told you often enough, you can never doubt that love.

YOU ARE LOVED

I know sometimes you doubt it

And you don’t hear it often enough, but

Know this one thing as you walk this earth:

You are loved.

In your finest hours and weakest moments,

You are loved.

Covered with dirt or fresh from your bath,

Respected, rejected, defamed or acclaimed

You are loved.

You may wear that love proudly as a red flower

Or keep it silent as cat whiskers,

But one thing you may never do with that love,

Is doubt it.

This is your guarantee and your obligation,

Because as surely as you live,

You are loved.

Judith Bond

Blessings and God’s Love to you,

Pastor Sharon