SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT LOVE AND VALENTINE’S DAY.

So many people today are hurting. Regardless of whether its marital problems, financial difficulties or impaired health, they all contribute to the hurt so many feel. Another source of pain comes from the lack of love. This kind of pain eats primarily at one’s emotions. Lack of love is so overwhelming that it can even contribute to a number of physical ailments.

Surely you remember this line from a once popular song, “All the world needs now is love, sweet love.” Love is a needed commodity in the human family. Generally speaking, the world has a distorted view of what constitutes real love. We say we “love” new clothes, new cars, certain songs or junk food. The world even refers to illicit sex as “making love.” The world does need love, sweet love, true love, but it needs the kind of love that comes from God. Without a doubt, the greatest “love” verse in the Bible is John 3:16 that says, “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.” While Valentine’s Day is not a biblical observance, none the less February 14 continues to be celebrated as a day for expressing love. With all the attention that is given this day, what better time to consider some thoughts about the greatest love mankind has ever known— the love of God.

How exciting it is to know we are loved by the creator of the universe. The One who scattered the billions and billions of stars and planets into space is not only aware of you and me, but also He passionately loves us. The truth is that we are not mere carbon-based sentient life forms. We are living creatures made in the image of God. God’s great love for us is seen in how intimately connected He is to us. He knew us before we were born. The psalmist wrote, “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret...Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:15,16). Luke 12:7 informs us that “even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7). John tells us that He first loved us (1 John 4:9).

Though we should cherish God’s love all the time, in all likelihood, the time we appreciate God’s love the most is when we suffer disappointments and feel dejected and forsaken. If it were not for the reassuring love of God, more people probably would drop out of the Lord’s work and pull away from His people just to lick their wounds. When troubling times come, God in tender love reminds us that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb.13:5). Isn’t that just like God? It should not be surprising, because His love in an everlasting love. In the Old Testament, Jeremiah wrote, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3).
Don’t misunderstand me, experiencing God’s love will not automatically turn your life rosy, but knowing that you have a God who loves you and is concerned about you will make your life worth while.

As exciting as knowing and experiencing God’s love yourself is seeing it manifested in the life of someone else. Seeing others change from a life of disobedience and running from God to one of learning and growing close to God is truly an amazing sight. When a person experiences God’s love, his life should change. He should begin to attend church regularly. He should begin reading his Bible. His relationship with his family should start falling in place. The more he experiences God’s love, the more he will want to become active in the Lord’s work. When we do not see these characteristics in a person’s life, we have a right to wonder whether or not that person has actually experienced the amazing love of God. Jesus said that those who love Him will keep his commandment (John 14:15).

We have a loving God. We enjoy the benefits of His love. As we think about these benefits, how often do we stop and consider the million others who have not experienced it. Why then are we guilty of not spreading that love around? I hope it’s not because we are so selfish or greedy that we want to keep God’s love to ourselves. We may let many things that keep us from actively sharing this love. Things like pride and selfishness sometimes get in our way. Activities may take precedence in our lives and our priorities get out of kilter. We simply must not let selfishness rob us of the joy of sharing God’s love with others.

How do we share God’s love? One way we share God’s love is by being a friend. Regardless of who they are, everyone needs a friend. A friend is someone who stands by you through the most difficult times. A friend is someone who will be by your side when everyone else goes away.

Another way to share God’s love is by sharing your faith. Remember the public service commercial that say, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk?” Spiritually speaking, “Friends don’t let friends go to hell.” We share God’s love by introducing others to Jesus. You also share God’s love by praying for others. On two occasions, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to pray for him and for his companions (1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1).

As Valentine’s Day approaches and people think more and more about the subject of love, Christians should think of the greatest love mankind has ever known, and formulate ways they can share it.