“Happy Singles Awareness Day!” the newscaster blurted out through the car radio. It was the first time I had heard the expression, which made me nearly spit out my coffee. I couldn’t help but chuckle. It seemed a clever way to try and ease the tension that some experience this time of year.
How God’s Love Never Fails
As a single person, I actually like Valentine’s Day (and being single). I enjoy watching my friends relish in the fragrant flowers and roses delivered to them at the office. If our hearts are willing, whether married or single, the day can be festive for everyone. For some of us, that gift might simply be the gift of laughter.
“For this is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
The Gift of Being Thankful
All of us can be thankful for the side effects of Valentine’s Day. The office smells a lot better, and there is usually enough chocolate to go around for everyone. Still, the pleasures quickly fade. Within days, the flowers start to wilt until only thorns and a puddle of red petals remain. Though the gift was temporary, it was meant to serve as a reminder of the lasting love of the one who sent it.
When I survey the naked thorns and fallen petals, they remind me of another day and another gift. Compelled by His great love for us, Jesus came to earth to give us the gift of Himself. Two thousand years ago, He hung naked and dying on a cross. A cruel crown of thorns fell crimson drops of blood onto a thirsty, sin-cursed ground.
Yet remarkably, Scripture teaches that Christ’s sacrifice served as a pleasing aroma to His Father.
“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
What Does God Say About Love Never Failing?
He offers a gift that never fades. Why? Because, just as the sweet fragrance of roses reminds us of someone’s love for us, the sacrifice of Christ reminds us of the Father’s boundless love for the whole world. Yet, unlike roses, which quickly fade and fall, Jesus’s gift lasts for eternity. The glorious proof is demonstrated in His resurrection!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you…you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” (1 Peter 1:3-4, 23-25, selected)
This Valentine’s Day, as you survey the flowers and candy and plastic hearts, remember to take some time to ponder the imperishable gift offered by the eternal Lover of your soul. While flowers and chocolate are temporary, the gift of Jesus Christ will forever remind us of the greatest love the world has ever known.
Do you need some fresh ideas to help kick-start your Quiet Time”? Get your FREE guide: 7 Simple Ideas to Refresh Your Quiet Times. If you’re looking for something more hands-on, I am also available for virtual coaching. May the Lord bless you as you seek to grow closer to Him!
Shadia is a passionate Bible teacher, author, and speaker who has a heart for seeing lives transformed by the power of God’s Word. She holds a master’s in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary and is the author of several books and Bible studies, including HAGAR, TAMAR, LEGION, Worthy of Love and her newest study, RAHAB: Rediscovering the God Who Saves Me!
This post originally appeared on Arise Daily Devos.
