Good morning everyone,
Happy Valentine’s Day! How will you express your love to your spouse, family members, or friends today? Will it be with flowers, candy, a card, or a meal out? One favorite with many people are the little candy hearts with sayings printed on them like: “B Mine!” or “My Sweetest!”
But all those things are empty fluff compared to God’s Valentine. All of Scripture has been described as God’s love letter to the world. Think of what He says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3). “I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Is. 43:1). “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Is. 49:16).
What’s more, God’s love is not empty talk. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 Jn. 4:9). God’s incomparable love for us is the source of our love for Him and for one another. “We love because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19).
May our love then be more than a few quickly forgotten words on Valentine’s Day. May it rather reflect Christ’s self-giving, sacrificial love in our attitudes and actions. If you get a chance today, read 1 Cor. 13:4-7 for a beautiful picture of true love in action. Page through Scripture and look for other expressions of His love. You won’t have to look far!
Tomorrow we will praise our loving Lord for a special gift of His love, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, by which He has called into His family as children and heirs of heaven.
The Junior Choir will sing in first service.
The public school confirmation class meets at 12:15.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor
