This week’s post will not be that long, but hopefully it will challenge you about how you view Valentine’s Day.
With the big V Day is just a few days away, we thought it would be a good time to focus on the reason we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Don’t worry this is no history lesson, we are going to talk about how this is day set aside to show the people that we love and appreciate how much they mean to us. This is when we thank them for all the things that they do for us, the love and care they show us, and for the support and encouragement that we receive from them.
Now doing all of that is great, and in the opinion of Team Swap, we should do that more then once a year but that is another topic for another post. The problem is that many times we can get so caught up in thanking our earthly relations that we can forget to thank God for all of His love for us and all that He does for us. This time of year is a great time to think about, and thank God for, 1) all the love He shows us day in and out, and 2) all the great things He gives us in life. This time of year, we need to remember to thank God for providing us with the people that love us here on earth, the provisions that He gives us to survive, the care and concern that He shows, the guidance and wisdom that He gives us, and most of all for all the love that He shows us by forgiving us. In other words, we need to be sure we do not get so caught up in the worldly celebration of love and devotion that we forget to show those same traits to our Father in heaven.
Throughout the Bible there are examples of how God cares, loves and provides for us. Look at chapter one in the book of James -
James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
To follow that same point look at Romans, chapter eight -
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
A third scripture along the same line is found in 2 Peter, chapter 1 -
2Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Two more examples of God’s care and provision can be found in the book of Psalms -
Psalms 34:10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
Weather it is Valentine’s day, May day, your birthday, or the holidays, God loves you, and He is caring for you daily. That gift allows all of us to come to the throne of God blameless and perfect. His gift is more then just earthly provision and care. It is more then wisdom, guidance, and concern, though God does give all of us those things. His greatest gift of love was sending His son to die for your sins on a Roman cross.
In the end, our simple point in this is that God loves you more then anyone or anything in the world does. He pours out His love and affection on us every day. He is never stingy or selfish with His love. His gifts are constant and consistent. Yet, this time of year when we are so focused on earthly love, devotion and care it is easy to miss God in all of this and we may forget to thank Him for His love and devotion.
Today, and every day, be sure to thank God for His provision, His care, and His love. Never let the things, and events, of the world get ahead of thanking God for all that He does for you.
