Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 ESV)
Valentine’s Day
Some people call it the only holiday invented by a greeting card company.
It’s Valentine’s Day.
Of course, the day itself was around long before we started buying cards. It was a day celebrating the life of Valentine. Stories vary regarding exactly what he did that makes him worthy of a “day.” Some tell of his commitment to marriage in the face of the Roman Empire’s attempt to suppress it. Some tell the loss of Valentine’s one true love, and his unending devotion to her. Some tell of his gifts to the lonely, the unloved, the desperate.
But no matter the origin, today it has become a day to say, “I love you.” Sometimes we blush to say that. Sometimes we blush to hear it. But “I love you” is not really embarrassing. It is not merely a marriage proposal. It is not merely expressing a crush. It doesn’t really have much to do with romance.
“I love you” means that the beloved is important to you. More important than yourself. “I love you” means that you will ACT in a way that shows the beloved matters. “I love you” means that you are willing to do without, so the beloved can do with.
The best example of love is Jesus Christ. In fact, we do not really KNOW love other than through the lens of Him. He is necessary, because He is love.
He said, “I love you” on the cross. He was saying that in His opinion, you (if you are His beloved) are more important than Him. That is why He died for you. He was ACTING in a way that shows you matter. He was saying that He was willing to do without life, so that His beloved can HAVE life.
Love is much more than pink hearts. Love is much more than batting eyelashes. Love is much more than giving mass produced cards to classmates. Love is more than warm feelings and puppies.
Love is Christ.