Responding to Love

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and across every language and culture where the day is celebrated, people took the time to affirm and reaffirm love. Unless by mutual agreement to bypass the day's sentimentalities, not many relationships would survive where one person 'forgot' the obligatory tangible show of affection. Rightly or wrongly, regardless of the state of one's relationship, it is what is expected.

While February 14th is almost universally set aside for this purpose, the believer is in the unique position of hearing affirmations and reaffirmations of love every day. While whispers of "I love you" from our loved ones bring joy and delight to most hearts, God reminds us of this fact at different times during the days. Unlike human love, His love is unfailing and unconditional, even when we ourselves are unlovable. As we go through the hustle and bustle of our days, His ongoing faithfulness is a practical demonstration of that love. Through the prophet Jeremiah He reminds us, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you" (31:3, ESV). God wasn't just content on loving us, but like a good lover, He demonstrated that love in a manner that no one else could. In Romans 5:8 we read, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us", and lest we fail to understand the magnitude of this love, Jesus, God in the flesh, told us, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Has anyone else done that for you lately?

It is not likely that anyone laid down their lives this past Valentine's Day to prove their love, but God gave us the ultimate gift as tangible proof of His love , His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Just as we found appropriate responses to the acts of love from our loved ones, so God's demonstration demand an equally appropriate response. I am reminded of the words from an old hymn:

"Were the whole realm of nature mine / That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine / Demands my soul, my life, my all."

That was the hymn writer's response. What is yours?