Wow !!!! It's Valentine's day and everyone is talking, sharing and texting about love. It's amazing how much this day is celebrated and how much preparation is done towards it; shops anticipating Valentine sales and gains, couples planning a special date, surprise proposals and all manner of love expressions. All of these pushed me to delve deeper into the story of Valentine and indeed his was a story of true love!
Valentine happened to be a Priest in the 3rd century who took the risk of secretly bonding soldiers in Holy Matrimony before they went to war, which was against the Roman Emperor's command, this eventually led him to jail. It is recorded that while he awaited execution, he fell in love with a blind girl who happened to be his jailer's daughter, legends have it that his words to her eventually enabled her to see again! Sadly, Valentine was put to death by his executioners shortly after that. He certainly might have died but he left a legacy which lives up till date and not sure it's going to disappear any time soon. This story portrays a high level of risk, sacrifice, giving and love.
As we celebrate Valentine, I like us to reflect on a greater love than his. The Love of God which shares very similar characteristics and even greater!
- God's love is sacrificial and available to all. It loves everyone, even those categorized as un-lovable by men!
'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3: 16
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 and sisters. 1 John 3: 16
- God's love towards us 'mankind' knows no bounds and can stretch to all dimensions.
Ephesians 3:18 says it is long, wide, deep and high meaning we can't define it's boundaries or limitations. It doesn't matter who you are, or where you're from! GOD LOVES YOU, Yes You!
- It's not how much you do or how qualified you are that makes you a candidate for His love; He loves you in your weakest, lowest and worst state. I guess the Apostle Paul can tell us a lot about this!
'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' Romans 5: 8
- Nothing can separate us from God's Love!
Paul says in Romans 8: 38 -39;
'38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
- God's Love is an example for us all to emulate.
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
The Love of God is so vast that I wonder if we will ever be able to comprehend it altogether but we can rely on it any day, any time and any where. And what good news we have that if we rely on His love, He will teach us and empower us to love right! Friends, love is all we need to have a better life, great relationships and the peace we so need in this world today. God's love wouldn't last you just Valentine's day but will last you a lifetime. I pray we all have our hearts filled with His love so we can spill it unto others always!
To crown it all, maybe you are at your lowest or feeling unloved today, I like you to be encouraged for JESUS LOVES YOU! Open your heart to Him as you are and allow yourself to be loved by Him, you will never regret it!
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY with love!
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