February 14th means different things to different people. Generally, it is recognized as a day to express your love for a certain person. But, I have found that many singles, especially ladies, find it one of the worst days of the year. I have heard of it being renamed “Singles Awareness Day”, a day when singles remind themselves and everyone around them that they are single. However, I find that viewing the day in this way causes a slight, or severe, case of self-pity and discouragement. So, I decided to see the holiday in a different light this year. Instead of looking at the love two humans have for each other, I looked at the love God has for me. I searched for verses in the Bible, songs, and quotes that tell me of God’s love for me. As I studied and read, I again realized that I am loved by the God of the universe with the greatest love of all time, and found myself falling deeper in love with Him. I would like to share with you some of the things I found, and invite you, whether single or married, to join with me in celebrating God’s love for us this Valentine’s Day.
The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me
and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
John 16:27
God’s steadfast, sure love for us is:
Unbelievable - so worship!
Unwarranted - so rejoice!
Unshakable - so love!
God’s steadfast, sure love is unshaken by:
Death - when you die God’s love keeps going.
Time - God’s love never wears out.
Sin - sin does not break God’s eternal love for you.
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:35a
The Love of God
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell,
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest Hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love so sure shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade.
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure,
How measureless and strong.
It shall forever more endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away.
As wounds which mare the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there.
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us,
that we would be called children of God; and such we are.
1 John 3:1a