Wednesday, February 17, 2016

MY Valentine

This may seem after the fact, but read on....

We all know what Valentines Day is or is expected to be.  Hallmark does a good job of creating the "mood".  The mood of expectations almost to the point of demands.  It can truly set the poor, committed yet unaware lover up for disaster if he happens to forget this one day of the year.  

What were your expectations last Sunday?  Did you give or receive thoughtful gifts or set time aside to be with a special person?     Perhaps you are in a strained relationship and Valentine's Day came and went like any other, dashing your hopes to the ground. For some, it is "single's awareness day" making one feel like a second class citizen if they are not sitting in a romantic restaurant with a starry eyed member of the opposite sex.

This day that retailers have created to be quite profitable by laying guilt on those who don't lavish their loved one with flowers and chocolate and shiny things have completely lost touch with the true essence of Valentine.  Yes, he was a real person.  A Christian martyr, in fact.  The story goes he befriended a blind girl and as he was headed toward the arena of hungry lions, tore a piece of paper into a heart shape so she would be reminded of how much Jesus loved her.

There it is, a True Valentine, so full of commitment that he gave up his life for the One he loved.  Sounds like someone else we know, right?  JESUS IS the TRUE VALENTINE.  He loves through thick and thin and will NEVER LEAVE you.  No matter how awful you and I behave, he will never get tired of us.  He completely understands us.  Everything He did while here on earth was out of love for us and for His Father to the point of being tortured, hanging on a humiliating cross for the whole world to see and finally dying.  All for undeserving me and undeserving you.  Do you realize that even if you were the only person in the world, Jesus would have still died for YOU?  That's how much JESUS LOVES YOU.

So what will you give your Valentine?  Does your heart overflow for Him and yearn to be with Him above all else?  How will you show Jesus how much you love him?  Relationships are a two way, contact sport.  God longs to have your attention and love.  Spend time with Him and listen closely to what He says in His word.  Love others more than you love yourself because by showing love to others you show your love for God.  Like a deer pants for water, desire your LORD.

February 14 is just another day on the calendar.  True LOVE is shown every day and doesn't need Hallmark to dictate how. As my pastor ended his sermon on Sunday, Feb 14.  Hear God saying, "I love YOU!"  Then, no matter your circumstances in life, you can love the unlovable and know you are not alone because you are filled with the true love of your Valentine. (JH)

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