God is my Valentine
God is my Valentine
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I wanted to take the time to write about the topic of love in relations to this upcoming day, but more specifically, God’s love. We, as Christians, believe in God and have faith in Him. We love Him, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). His love is ever so powerful and present in our lives, and we should cherish that completely. After all, God is love (1 John 4:8). He is our creator, and our comforter. Without Him, we will never know what true love is.
There are many different scriptures that illustrate God’s love, and what it means for us. I want to share with you some of my favourite scriptures that talk about love, and more specifically God’s love, that will encourage and support you all, especially during this time when so many will be expressing their love for their partner.
Featured above/left: Cross and Heart Necklace in Sterling Silver from Christian-owned jeweler, Apples of Gold Jewelry
When I think of God’s love, I believe first and foremost that His love is represented by what He has done for us. The famous verse, John 3:16, emphasises just that. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus into the world to die for the sins of the whole world on the cross. He allowed His son to be the perfect sacrifice for all sins. To me, that represents God’s love for us. Why? Because we are all sinners, deserving of being punished and cast into hell. For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
However, God has allowed us to be saved, to receive eternal life, through faith in Jesus Christ and all that He has done. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36). God has given us a chance to repent and to redeem ourselves to believe on Him, and all that He has done for us, to be saved and receive the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:… And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world(1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2).
In return for this perfect sacrifice and gift that God has availed for His believers, our faith should highlight our love for God, and love for our neighbours. Jesus told us that the two greatest commandments are to love The Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy soul, all thy strength and all thy mind, and to love thy neighbour as thyself (Matthew 22:34-40). Now that we understand God’s love and what it means for us, we should then reciprocate that love for God and for others too.
In 1 Corinthians 13, God illustrates for us what love is, and how we can love others. This is another popular scripture that is actually recited in various wedding ceremonies as a means for the husband and wife to understand not only their commitment towards one another but also their love for one another too.
The Bible reads in 1 Corinthians 13, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity”.
Featured right: Diamond Heart Cross Necklacein 14k gold, from Apples of Gold Jewelry
Love (charity) is the greatest and most important for us as believers to express, to feel and to show towards one another. If we do not have love, we are nothing. If we cannot show love for our neighbours, or more importantly, love for God, then we are nothing. 1 Corinthians 13 depicts for us what love truly is. It is a guideline for us believers to follow for our friends, our family, our neighbours and our loved ones.
We don’t have to be with someone in order to feel or to have love. We have the love of God which is more than enough. Once we have that, we can then express our love for one another, which can make us feel loved in return. I believe that God’s love is perfect and as He comes first in my life, everything else will follow suit. I don’t need a partner. I don’t need a Valentine. God is my Valentine.
God Bless