On the 14th February each year, lovers from around the world declare their undying love for that special someone in their life.
And even though the pagan origins of the day are less than admirable, most take the opportunity to express their love in some way. Poetry is written and serenades are sung by those more romantically inclined and tons of heart shaped candies are given as gifts of love.
Have you ever tried to book a table at a restaurant on Valentines Day? As I discovered this year, its an impossible task. Along with that lesson I also learnt that a meaningful expression of love takes a lot of planning and usually costs us something!
With these thoughts in mind, I started thinking about God and His love for us.
In 1 John 4:8 we read that God is love. Its not merely one of his characteristics; It is central to all that he is and love is what defines him! Verses 9-10 further explain this amazing love: This is how God showed his love among us: God sent his one and only Son into the world so we might live through him.
The Message Bible puts it this way: This is the kind of love we are talking about–not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage theyve done to our relationship with God.
Its so easy to read quickly over these words, without stopping to think of the true implications of Gods greatest expression of love, the sacrifice of his Son. And the Son choosing to lay down all for his creation.
Since before the creation, God planned to save us through Christ (Ephesians 1:4).
That the creator of everything – from the brilliant galaxies to the flawless intricacies of an orchid flower – would willingly lay aside his glory and power, and walk the earth among us and live out a human existence, is almost impossible for us to comprehend.
The winter nights to him were just as cold, and the summer roads he walked just as hot and dusty. The tears that marked his cheeks as he saw the sorrow around him were as real as those you and I weep, those wet streaks possibly the greatest sign of his humanity.
Why at such horrendous cost?
And then to top it all, he willingly submitted to the crucifixion. Yes, he chose to die for humankind, but why by the most heinous execution method ever conceived by his crazed creation? He was beaten by trained soldiers who then mocked and ridiculed him before nailing him to the cross. Was the crown of thorns piercing his scalp really necessary? Why the humiliation of being spat on? Can you imagine the pain (they came up with the word excruciating to describe the pain of crucifixion) as large blunt nails were hammered into his living flesh, and then as he weakened, and pain became unbearable, the suffocating panic as his diaphragm no longer allowed him to draw in life giving air? Surely the vinegar soaked sponge just before he died had no place in the Beloved Sons death? And then the unthinkable happened. The Father who had been in perfect relationship with the Son for eternity, turned away, as he took on your and my sin.
Oh, what a cost to prove his love to you and me and to restore a relationship broken through sin! Through each horrendous act that was played out, I imagine that I hear him whisper, I love you. I do this for you, please be mine…
Some 2000 years ago on the hill of Golgotha, the greatest gift of love was about to be given. You were on his mind as he died and it was his love for you that helped get him through an ordeal we cannot even come close to comprehending.
Next time you feel unloved or spend a Valentines day alone, remember that his love for you knows no bounds and that he proved it throughout the horror of that day, so that he could spend eternity with you!
Rom 8:39 -absolutely nothing can get between us and Gods love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (Message Bible)
Sadly, Valentines day may be the more popular day of celebration, but there is no question in my mind that the greatest day of love is the day our Lord died for us.