As we give gifts of appreciation and love to the special people in our lives let us also realize that God is also wishing us a Happy Valentines
Day. Not in the sense of giving us superficial gifts like roses and candy but
just the fact that we celebrate a day where we outwardly appreciate the people
in our lives that we love is a gift from God. God is love and has from the beginning of time
shown us how much He loves us and how He wants us to love one another.
1 John 4:8 states, "God is love." Not only does
God love; love is part of His essential nature (Bible). Love is who God is, therefore He cannot but
love. What a beautiful picture of who God is. His whole nature is love! Some
examples of His love for us is His Son, Jesus. 1 John 4:9 explains, “This is how God showed
his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might
live through him” (Bible). John 3:16 goes on to say, “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” (Bible). By giving us the gift of salvation
through His son, His grace is also revealed and counted as Love.
Grace is something that God has extended to us as the result
of Jesus, His only son, dying for our sins. It cannot be bought or loaned, it
cannot be bartered with. It is free. God’s Grace is the most loving gift anyone
could ever receive. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains it this way, "For by grace
you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the
gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Bible). If you are a child of God you have been given grace, not because you deserve it but because God loves you unconditionally. Another expression of God's love is His preparation of a home for us. 
Heaven is a place we Christians long for, It is our hope and
our future. In John 14:2-3 Jesus promises, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If
it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, that where I am you may be also” (Bible). What love God is showing to
us just by giving us the promise of our new home with Him. God gives us many
hints into what this home will be like and it will be wonderful but being face-to-face
with Jesus will be the best gift yet.
The Bible is full of other examples of God’s love for us,
but the very nature of God is reason enough to know we are loved dearly by our
Lord and Creator. We are God’s creation and He created us to bring Glory to Him.
Loving us and us taking His hand and trusting Him to keep His promises is doing
just that, bringing Honor and Glory to our Father, the God of Creation.
Happy Valentines Day!
Your Sister in Christ
Jacque Barnes
