Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Day

According to Pottsmerc.com, on February 14, 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolate will be exchanged, 198 million roses will be given (smart choice, guys), and 160 million valentine cards will be signed, sealed and delivered (not counting the boxed set cards children exchange at school valentine parties), making this the second largest greeting card holiday (next to Christmas). I bought my wife a chocolate-colored greeting card with a photo of a rose, so I guess I added to all three categories.

The day is an important time to tell the ones you love what they mean to your life, but we don't have to do that only one day a year. God certainly doesn't. His love for us is expressed 24/7 year round. Five hundred and five verses in the scripture speak of love. God's love is amazing.

1 John 3:1 (NIV)
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Our response to Him isn't too hard to figure out.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

And no wonder -

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.