Will You Be Mine?

This is love! It is not that we loved God but that He loved us. For God sent His Son to pay for our sins with His own blood. (1 John 4:10)

Like most ladies out there, I like some flowers or perhaps a little chocolate from my man to celebrate special occasions, like Valentine's Day. It's the day-to-day devotion and commitment that mean the most, but every once in a while, a thoughtful gift from someone you love just plain feels good. My favorite gift to give is a card containing a personalized, hand-written message letting the receiver know how much they mean to me and what is so special about them.

Candy hearts and perfumed roses are lovely, but there is a far greater gift that all of us are able to receive, whether or not we have a significant other in our lives. This gift was given a long time ago, but its impact is every bit as meaningful today. It doesn't smell pretty, nor does it come in a sparkling package. Unlike flowers, which wilt and must be given anew when the circumstances dictate, this gift was given only once but shall last for all eternity. There is nothing we've done to deserve this gift, nor any obligation on the part of the giver to give it. He simply gave this gift to us all for one simple reason: He loves us. It is the unsurpassed gift of God's Son.

From the weathiest among us to the poorest, from the long-married to the lonesome, from the joyous to the troubled at heart...the gift of Jesus is for each of us. The depth of God's love, that He would sacrifice His one and only Son to redeem us, is unfathomable for our feeble and wandering minds to fully comprehend. We are joined to God forever, saved, redeemed and made righteous through His life-giving grace. This gift was costly to God, but given freely from the depths of a love humankind has never known otherwise.

Valentine's Day has a cultural history worth repeating and celebrating, if only to boost the economy through greeting card sales. But on this "day of love," whether you have experienced love from another in this world or not, the ultimate Gift awaits all mankind. It's wrapped in blood-stained burial cloths behind a stone. Cupid's sharpest arrow cannot penetrate the depths of our hearts as can the love of our Lord nailed to a cross on Calvary. The roses will wilt, the chocolate will dry out, the greeting card will wither to dust. God's gift is forever.

The precious ink of Jesus' blood spells a timeless message for us all: My child, will you be mine?