This Friday many individuals will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special, gift-giving remembrance(s), such as a dinner and movie, flowers, candy, a coupon book filled with “love notes and promises”, special books, and so forth. When I think about Valentine’s Day, I immediately think of my spouse and wonder what I can buy him that would honor him on this special day, and/or wonder what he, in turn, will buy me. It seems that this is such a big part of our culture, but what if I don’t receive any gift except “I love you” from that special loved one? Would that be enough? Of course! That, in itself, is a “special” gift.

The Word of God is filled with many scriptures regarding love. Let us examine two wonderful passages that not only talk about God’s love, but which also gives us guidelines about how we should treat one another.

I Corinthians 13:1-8; 15 (NIV):

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

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.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

“Ephesians 3:14-23 (NIV):

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, 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.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

This, indeed, is what love is all about–even on Valentine’s Day.

Give someone a hug and tell them that you love them for this is truly a special gift given to each and every one of us from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Blessings on you,
Yvonne