WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE?
WRITTEN BY JACO VAN AS
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One of the biggest days every year is the 14th of February, also known as Valentine’s Day. On this day people go out of their way to show their loved ones how much they are being loved and in some cases, hundreds of rand’s are spend to proof it. I personally do not believe in celebrating this day but I know that millions of people do and there is nothing wrong with it either. I just feel that one should show love not just on the 14th of February but every single day of your life and then also not just towards your husband, wife or partner, but to everyone around you, which should include those working with you, sitting next to you in church, your neighbour next door, the homeless guy sleeping in the veld across the road from you; in fact, anyone and everyone, no matter who they are, where they from or what culture they belong to.
It is also very important that this love you share with your loved ones, firstly are shared with our Heavenly Father. If we can so easily go “all out” to show and proof our love toward one another, then we should also be doing the same towards our Creator. I am just wondering if the millions of people who spend hundreds of rand’s on such a special day, would do the same proofing their faith and love for Jesus? I would like to end with the following scriptures and with these, Jesus is asking you to be His Valentine; not just today but forever!
Let’s look at what the Bible says about love and what love is:
God is love! 1 John 4:8. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. (NLT, 1 John 4:16). Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 5:35-40
Now let have a look at how much Jesus loves us:
I asked Jesus how much He loved me He answered “this much” Then He stretched out His arms and died for me. Jesus stretched out His arms so wicked people could nail Him to a cross, That’s how much He loves us. He stretched out His arms to take on the sins of the entire world. That’s how much He loves us. He stretched out His arms so His blood could be spilled as a sacrifice. That’s how much He loves us. He stretched out His arms so we wouldn’t have to. That’s how much He loves us. The Cross of Christ is the clearest, loudest, most powerful “I love you . . . infinity!” ever proclaimed.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. What Jesus wants from us when it comes to love:
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:1. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out
fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:17-21. This is the law I give you: Have love one for another, even as I have love for you. John 15:12. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10).