Be My Valentine

This phrase has been used in many ways over the years. It used to mean that you just wanted to be a friend; then it evolved into being a very intimate friend. February 14 is treated like a holiday in many parts of our country, yeah, even around the world. But everything goes on like normal, so we really cannot call it a holiday. This day finds people spending billions upon billions for all sorts of gifts and cards and parties. Just imagine if people put as much effort into declaring their love for Jesus, as they do towards each other.

Just like this day when presents are bought and given, there really is a request for a more earnest and honest display of love. Sure it is nice to receive flowers, candy, jewelry, or other gifts, but without the actions that demonstrate that love, these become nothing more than just things. Our love must be pure and honest. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 describe many of the qualities of love. Other passages speak of the fact that we should serve God with love from the heart. Jesus spoke the words: "if you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Here is the true demonstration of our love towards Him.

If You Love Me... indicates that there are requirements or qualifications that are necessary to confirm such love. How often do we hear this preface when we want something? If you love me, bring me a bottle of water, or bring me a Kleenex, or something else.
Now, in a negative way, we have heard this phrase from young people. If you love me, you will give me your body to do as I please. Well, it may not be these exact words, but I am pretty sure everyone knows what I am talking about. Please, boys and girls do not give in to the puppy love that you think is there. It is the hormones that are making this request, and not someone who really cares about you, but they only care about themselves.

But let us get back to what Jesus said in John 14:15. Let us remember that Jesus demonstrated His love for us by dying on the cross. Jesus gave it all. What have you given to God? No, God is not asking you to sacrifice yourself, and let us hope that it does not come to that. We have the easy part because God only requires obedience from us. Now, we may consider that to be more than we can bear because our hearts are selfish, but doing what God wants will please Him. Every so often, people really put up a resistance to doing what God asks us to do. Even the simplest commands are met with all sorts of reasons why we do not have to do that as a condition of salvation. Baptism is the easiest command in the Bible, and it is the one command that is discounted, ignored, and disobeyed more than any other. The second greatest command that requires us to love our neighbors as ourselves is also ignored a great deal. When you consider the whole of God's law given to man, Jesus said it could be summed up in one simple phrase: love.
Upon the principle of love rest the whole law. Paul said that the majority of the whole law rest upon the phrase: "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself".

Do you love Jesus as much as He loves you? Have you obeyed Jesus like you should? Do you love Jesus enough to die for Him? Do you love Jesus enough to live for Him? Your honest answer to these questions will demonstrate just how much Jesus means to you.

By Carey Scott

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