ROMANS 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

TO PONDER:

Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is big business. Retailers love it, so do restaurant owners!. It's all about showing love, whether it's penning a few words that express your deepest feelings in a card, buying flowers or chocolates or both to give to someone you love. But today is also Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent where tonight, ashes will be placed on our head to symbolise the dust from which God made us. The ashes also symbolise grief - the grief caused by sin and the the resulting separation that occurs in our relationship with God. It's a time of reflection...as we remember who we are, and more importantly who God is.

Yet in many ways, it is fitting that they both come together on this day...for the cross of ashes on our head also points to the deep love of God that could not let us go. God gives you his heart forever. He gives you unfailing love, a love that would pay the ultimate cost to make you his forever. A love that would stop at nothing, not even death, to reveal his love, to demonstrate his love, so you could experience the fullness of his love. It's a love that is yours, not because you deserve it, but because you are worth it. Whether you get flowers, chocolates, a card or not, you have God's heart, a love that is patient and kind, a love that always trusts, always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. A love that will never fail you. There is no greater demonstration of that love, than the love God declared in his Son who was nailed to a tree for you. Happy Valentine's Day to you...with love from God.

PRAYER:

Wow God, I struggle to comprehend the lengths to which you have gone, to demonstrate your love for me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I receive that love and will step out embraced by your love for me today. I love you too. Amen.