Today is the day we celebrate Valentine’s Day in America and elsewhere throughout the world. This day is associated with love and is accompanied with the sharing of chocolates, Valentine cards, balloons, and many other expressions. Of course, this day has been subject to the normal commercialization associated with other holidays, but it is perfect day to think about love.
“Words from Above” tell us that there is a perfect kind of love, and that love comes from God. In fact, the apostle John writes in one of his letters that “God is love”. In other words, God is the very definition of love. John also quoted Jesus in John 3:16 as telling a man named Nicodemus that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:17 also quotes Jesus as saying, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved”.
It is understandable that God loves the world, especially in view of the fact that He created the world and everything in it, including the people of the world. The Book of Genesis tells us that God created mankind in His own image and after His own likeness, and it was His purpose that mankind would bring honor and glory to Him. Unfortunately, the devil came to the first woman Eve and convinced her to disobey the one simple rule that God had given to her and Adam. They were both guilty of disobeying this rule, and they both blamed their action on someone else, but God held them each personally responsible for their actions. But, at the same time, He promised that one day He would send a descendant of the woman to crush Satan and deliver mankind from the power of sin and death which Satan had caused.
All of this proves what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8 about the love of God through His Son Jesus. Paul made the point that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, including such things as tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. He said that people were being frequently killed for the sake of Jesus, just like sheep which were slaughtered. However, he said that in all these things they were more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Jesus warned His audience in Matthew 10 that they should not fear those who may kill our body, but they should rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
