How Great the Love

School children carry their Valentine boxes back to their desks in eager anticipation of discovering the treasures inside. Sparkles of delight dance in their eyes mirrored by the glittery hearts created by small hands to transform everyday shoe boxes into chests of treasure. What will they discover inside?

For ages, both children and adults have exchanged cards and gifts at Valentine’s Day to show their love and affection. And what better time than February, the month of love, to reflect on the greatest love of all?

A group of scholars once debated what the key difference was between Christianity and all other world religions. They pondered for hours unable to reach a consensus until a single man entered the room. Overhearing their discussion he spoke up, “That’s easy. It’s grace.” And C. S. Lewis was exactly right.

Grace, the unwarranted favor that God so freely gives us, is not found elsewhere. All other religions require works of some kind to be in right standing. It seems unreasonable to man that he should have the Creator’s affection without first having earned it. Yet, it is that very nature that sets Him apart and shows that He is inherently God. When we create gods in our own image they reflect our nature not His true one. The grace that God pours out on us is the perfect picture of love in action given to those who deserve the very opposite. His love for us is unconditional.

When Jesus died on the cross in our place it was not the Jews or the Romans who crucified Him. It wasn’t nails that held Him to the cross. It was but one thing- love. His love for us is so great that He held nothing back. And that is the most wonderful Valentine treasure of all. It’s there in each of our Valentine boxes just waiting to be opened not just on February 14th but every day of the year.

May God’s great love fill your heart and home spilling over into the world around you.  

Happy Valentine’s Day