Great Big Valentine Love

Valentine's Day is a day of reflection and expression. A day set aside to think about the people in our life that we care about. It gives us reason to pause for a moment in our busyness and ask the question: "How much do they mean to me?"

For the ones closest to us, our hearts may immediately bubble up with emotions. They mean more to us than our words can even fully express. Our whole hearts are wrapped around them. 

"How can I express it?" we ask ourselves. We pen our love letters. We draw or paint our sentiments. We spend more money than we even have, just to show how much we love them. We go out of our way to make sure they know just how deep our love goes. We are not afraid to sacrifice. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

(Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV)

Consider now, what God's thought process is when He reflects on how much we mean to Him? How much YOU mean to Him? How can He even express it?

He sings His Love Song over us on a daily basis. He paints the sky with His artwork everyday to proclaim His Love. He spent it all by giving His only Son. For He loves the world so so very much! And He went out of His way, and continues to do so, as He pursues each of us on an intimate, personal level.

How much do we mean to Him? We wouldn't even be able to handle it if He expressed it all at once. He needs all of eternity to show us just how deep it truly goes. 

And now the question comes to us, as well. "How much does Jesus mean to me?"

Every answer will sound different. Some will shrug their shoulders. He is just a symbol to them, His Name a profanity. Some will avoid answering. Their self-condemnation is too great. They fear more than they love and do not know that they can be free by simply saying yes to His Love. Others will say they have never thought about it. And still others will say they have never even heard of Him. 

But some...some will not even be able to put it into words as tears fill their eyes. For them, Jesus has become their everything. They know the depth of Mercy they have received and they realize they love Him only because He loved them first. They said yes to the greatest Valentine's Gift anyone could ever give. Jesus means everything to them because without Him, their lives would be empty and mean nothing.

So, I ask you. How much does Jesus mean to you?

We love because he first loved us.

(1 John 4:19 NIV)