How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
We had just taken the junior high kids home after Bible Club when I found a stray piece of paper on our front porch. I recognized the handwriting of Lisa, one of the girls. It was a handwritten list titled “My Best Friends.” At the top of the list: “God.”
Lisa’s parents struggled to make ends meet. They lived in a tiny house down the road, but often took in relatives. Though surrounded by poverty, Lisa was rich in faith, counting God as her best friend.
This Valentine’s Day, we can celebrate God’s great love in Christ Jesus. Unlike traditional valentine exchanges that can leave some of us feeling like empty-handed Charlie Brown, God’s “Valentine” is for each of us. His love is everlasting (see Psalm 103:17) and endures forever (see Psalm 107:1). His love is so great it reaches to the heavens (see Psalm 57:10) and so powerful that it never fails (see Psalm 52:8).
Jesus Christ made God’s love visible as He walked to Calvary to carry our sins. As we meditate on His suffering for our sake, we see Love so powerful it even overcomes death (see John 3:16). Our world does not often acknowledge those in Lisa’s circumstances, but God’s love, without boundary or limit, loves her—and us—with a rich (see Psalm 145:8) and priceless love (see Psalm 36:7).
Prayer: O Wondrous Love, stretch our hearts of love toward all people. In Jesus we pray. Amen.
Response: Send a valentine with God’s loving words to someone.
(Devotions from "Cross of Ashes" by Christine Weerts, a Lenten devotional provided by Lutheran Hour Ministries. Copyright 2005, Int'l LLL. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend.)
Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 19-20 Matthew 27:27-50
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