Valentine’s Day

Valentine's day. It comes every year. What comes into your mind on this day? For many, it's a day of hope and love, of excitement, and joy! But for many, it's a day of loneliness and despair. Why? What makes the difference in our minds? I think it comes down to knowing our value. What is your value, and by whom are you valued? The answer to these questions will make all the difference!  I was talking to a friend of mine, who was explaining how the dowry system worked in India. "The dowry system in India refers to the durable goods, cash, and real or movable property that the bride's family gives to the bridegroom, his parents, or his relatives as a condition of the marriage. A dowry used in this way is actually a conditional gift that is supposed to be restored to the wife or her family if the husband divorces, abuses, or commits other grave offenses against her." The dowry system just goes to show, that in this life, people will disappoint us, often the ones we find ourselves closest to! This can be one big reason for loneliness and despair! What a contrast though, to that of God's unconditional, unchanging love for you and I!  "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:3) When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. BUT GOD demonstrated his love toward us, in that, while we were YET SINNERS, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8) Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your vain conduct received by tradition from your fathers, BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHIRST, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18, 19) What value! The life blood of the very Son of God! "Amazing love! How can it be? That Thou my God should'st die for me?! But Jesus lives! The Saviour lives! In Heaven He pleads for me!"

Mary Shekleton understood where her true value came from when she penned these words in 1863,

"Oh! fill me Jesus Savior with Thy love;
Lead, lead me to the living fount above!
Thither may I in simple faith draw nigh
And never to another fountain fly,
But unto Thee."

When you realize your value in God's eyes, you can then share with others how much God values them! Ann Voskamp said this,

"If you’re waiting on God for something, do what waiters do best: serve. Break free of your comfort zone and do something, touch someone, give something, help someone, pray for someone, serve someone, #betheGIFT for someone. You can’t be a world changer until you serve. In serving, you are served a feast of what you’re longing for. Because the One who loves you steadfastly, stood fast at the cross for you, so now stand fast for Him."

https://www.sharefaith.com/blog/2011/01/valentines-day-history-story-st-valentine/

Although the story of Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery, buried in tradition, and (thanks to commercialism) stripped of its significance, we can bring some of the truth back. The truth is, love can’t be squelched, outlawed, or stamped out. The significance of Valentine’s life was not that he defended love and romance and performed secret marriages. Valentine--a day now besmirched by cupids, chocolate, and candlelit dinners--is a day founded upon the life of a martyr. Valentine died a bloody death, beaten and beheaded. The truth is, Valentine was in love with his Savior, Jesus Christ. Love for Jesus trumped his love of self. Valentine nobly gave his life for the God he loved. That is true love. But true love is deeper still. It goes beyond our love for God. "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) 

This Valentine’s day, do something different. Sure, talk about love, but talk about true love--the love that God had for us. The love that sent Jesus to a cross. Talk about our love for Him--the kind of love that goes beyond mere comfortable Christian existence. The kind of love that is willing to take risks, to sacrifice everything, and even to give our lives for Him who loved us.

Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Loving kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.

Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heaven’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.

Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise!

Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.

Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.

William Rees (1802-1883)