Valentine’s Day is the day when the world celebrates love. This day is noted for expressions of love, demonstrated by many in the giving of flowers, candy, and other gifts. For a short time, we try to show each other how much we love them, forgiving trespasses and focusing on the joy they bring to our lives.
As we extend our love to each other today, let us first reflect on the source of love and the nature of the love our God, a God of love, gives to us each and every day. He has loved us since before we were born and will love us for all eternity. He will forgive our sins if we only call upon His name. Take some time today to reflect on the following verses from His Holy Word that provide indications of the intensity of the love given to each of us by our Heavenly Father.
“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:6)
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18)
“The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.” (Numbers 14:18)
“…but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Deuteronomy 5:18)
“He will love you and bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land – your grain, new wine, and oil – the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that He swore to your forefathers to give you.” (Deuteronomy 7:13)
“He is good; His love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 5:13)
“The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the Earth is full of His unfailing love.” (Psalms 3:5)
“All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant.” (Psalms 25:10)
“Your love, LORD, reaches to the Heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” (Psalms 36:5)
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalms 100:5)
In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it – one from the house of David – one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.” (Isaiah 16:5)
“Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; His love endures forever.” (Jeremiah 33:11)
“O LORD, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with all who love Him and obey His commands.” (Daniel 9:4)
“Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:13)
“This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
“Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
“This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:17)
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:5)
“Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD.” (Romans 8:39)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast; it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against these things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22)
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-20)
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)
“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.” (1 John 3: 16)
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” (1 John 4:9)
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)
“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
It is normal for God to love. God is a God of love. God is love. He has loved us from the beginning with a perfect love that is everlasting. His love does not change and is the same now as it has always been. Because He is love, He is sure to love us. Should there be any lingering doubt in your mind, just remember:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Be normal. Be an example of God’s love to others today.
In His love and service,
Jeff Myers
A servant of Jesus Christ
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