“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
It’s called affectionately “the love month”… February, in case you were wondering … that time of the year when special things are done for special people. Cards, candy, and flowers galore.
Back in High School, the popular “going steady” gift to your “one and only” (at least for a time) was a necklace with initials on it. Offered as a token of “love” it announced to the world of high school that this person who is now wearing the necklace with my initials is off limits!
And the jewelers made a haul! I always wondered what happened to all of those initialed necklaces when couples broke up and ended the relationship they thought was “love!” Giving that necklace involved risk.
Way back in Grade School, the exchange of funny cards and small candies gave everyone in your class that important “I am Special” feeling.
I can remember with clarity the lament of one Christian lady who said sadly but with overtones of bravery, “I don’t get Valentines” … reminding me in a ‘you-can’t-miss-it’ kind of way of the fact that so many may feel not-so-loved … nor special!
Can you identify with this lament?
No one should feel this way!
The fact is everyone has been sent a letter of love from our God imploring us … Be Mine! We can bring the knowledge of that letter of love to someone who has not found it yet.
As sung in the Hymn …
‘The Love of God’ is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair bowed down with care, God gave His son to win; His erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin.
Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Tho’ stretched from sky to sky.
That is powerful!
The sweet taste of love can be so satisfying and fulfilling! It can brighten our hearts and our lives with joy, healthy self-worth … purpose … and a true sense of warmth … security … and feeling cared about!
The highest degree of love is that which was demonstrated by our Heavenly Father (John 3:16) and by His Son when He came down to this earth to accomplish the Father’s will in every way (Romans 5:8).
Genuine love is sacrificial … it is the putting of someone else’s needs ahead of ours … and that can be very challenging in the selfishness that in so many ways characterizes our world.
We do make choices every day about life, ourselves, others, and hopefully primarily about our Lord and how we can serve Him on this day!
When we have made the choice to allow love to enter into the room of our heart and to express it in the sum total of what we believe to be appropriate we are … in a very real sense … taking a risk that we deem to be worth it.
We must be compelled to share with others that there is a greater love … the highest of the high … the love God possesses … perfect in every way … and He extends it to each of us if we choose to accept it.
We all need to feel that someone cares … and even if we will not find it among mankind … it will always be there in the abiding and constant love of the Father for each of His children!
We cannot be what God has always meant for us to be until we learn to love … and be loved … as God loves.
Let us set about to show others they can choose to receive the special things done for special people Every day!
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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