Forget the hype surrounding this holiday weekend. Forget the flowers and chocolates and everything else, and remind yourself of the origin of love.
Take just a few minutes and reflect on God’s love for you. Think of the verses of Scripture below as a Valentine’s message from God to you, and remind your friends of His great love.
1. God’s love for us is not based on our goodness.
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NASB).
God initiated conversation with Adam after he sinned: “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:8-9, NIV).
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10, NLT).
“The LORD’s acts of mercy indeed do not end,
For His compassions do not fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NASB).
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NASB).
“The LORD appeared to him long ago, saying,
‘I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you out with kindness’” (Jeremiah 31:3, NASB).
“The LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His faithfulness is to all generations” (Psalm 100:5, NASB).
Yes, He cares about our physical and emotional needs, but more importantly, He cares about our spiritual life: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10, NLT).
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8, ESV).
“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus” (Romans 15:4-5, NLT).
“You have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are punished by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He punishes every son whom He accepts” (Hebrews 12:5-6, NASB).
“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV).
“‘Come now, and let us debate your case,’
Says the LORD,
‘Though your sins are as scarlet,
They shall become as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be like wool’” (Isaiah 1:18, NASB).
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5, NIV).
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NIV).
“The LORD isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9, NLT).
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:1-5, NIV).
began his journalism career as a newspaper correspondent for his local paper in Ohio. He covered city council meetings, wrote features and took photos. Rich served with Worldwide Challenge magazine from 2008-2016. Now, he writes field reports for another Cru ministry. Contact Rich at Rich.Atkinson@isponline.org.
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