Ah, Valentine’s Day. Hearts and flowers. Candy. Romance. As a person who likes ribbon and lace, I have always loved seeing the beautiful heart boxes of candy, on the store shelves, and the pink and red cards, in the greeting card section. As a child, I created my own valentines with colored paper and white doilies for my loved ones. While Valentine’s day offers an opportunity to show our love in a sweet, romantic way, there is a deeper kind of love that you can have, every day.
It is not always easy to love. People sometimes hurt, disappoint, reject, or betray us. Our feelings get in the way of loving them. But there is someone who will remain faithful to us when others turn away, Jesus Christ. Jesus promises in Hebrews 13:5 that he will never leave or forsake us. All through the Bible, God tells us to be courageous and that we can depend on him. Deuteronomy 31:8.
There is one requirement, though, for his faithfulness to us. We must first believe in his Son, Jesus Christ, who died on a wooden cross for our sins. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 KJV.
How is this possible? How can one man cover the sins of the whole world? Jesus was fully man, having been born of a woman, named Mary, but he was also fully God. In Luke 1:35, the angel Gabriel told Mary that the power of the most high would overshadow her and she would give birth to the Son of God. Even though Jesus was fully human and was tempted, as we are, he never sinned. Hebrews 4:15. He was the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins.
All of us are sinners. No matter how kind or unselfish someone is, they still are not perfect. None of us can hold that standard, only Christ. The penalty for our sin is death and eternal separation from God, but when we ask God for forgiveness all our sins are wiped away and we become his child.
So, if you are looking for someone to love you, if there is a void in your heart, come to Jesus and let him fill you with joy, take way your guilt, and give you the riches of his grace, forever.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me even though I have failed you, over and over, again. Please forgive me and make me your child. The Bible tells us that Jesus died for my sins and, if I believe in him, I will be forgiven and have everlasting life. I believe that Jesus is your Son and wish to receive forgiveness and the joy that comes from knowing you. Please, take away the emptiness in my heart, knowing that you will always love me and never forsake me. I ask this in Jesus’s name. Amen
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