It’s Valentine’s Day as I’m writing this, and I’m struck by the number of people out shopping for the perfect tangible gift to express their love. Will it be chocolates? Flowers? Dinner and a movie?
So, that got me to thinking: What would I give Jesus for Valentine’s Day? What could I give Him that He doesn’t already have? What “tangible” gift could I give to show Him how much He means to me and how much I love Him? Everything I can think of seems so small in-light-of the love and grace He has shown me! I mean, what can you give the quintessential “man who has everything”?
And then I remembered. Jesus told His disciples:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you mustlove one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
That’s it? That’s what you want for Valentine’s Day, and every single day in between? Surely, there’s something else you’d like. Something easier? Something a little more convenient? Something I can purchase? Like, is there a gift card for that?
Nope. You can’t buy me love. Real love is gonna cost you! Real love is messy. Real love is hard. Real love is glorious and amazing. It’s precious and it’s valuable. Real love for God and each other. That’s what Jesus wants.
The Apostle John wrote: “This is love: Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another”(1stJohn 4:10-11).
My dear friends, you can’t buy a love like that! That kind of love is a gift that was purchased for you with the blood of Christ. So, let’s make today and every day the perfect opportunity to express, with tangible evidence, the love that God Himself has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Let’s show the world how much we love Jesus by how well we love each other. Hey! It’s what He wants!
God bless you guys. Have a great week.
Penny Bennett
