A few weeks ago a co-worker made the statement, “I cannot begin to love the unseen God more than I love my daughter whom I can see.” In response, the question was asked, how do you know what love is?

1 John 3:16, says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” It is this love of Christ that controls us (2 Cor 5:14). On this Valentine’s Day be encouraged to not only think of that special someone in your life, but consider the precious gift which was given to us freely through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. When we consider the reasons why Christ died, we cannot help but to also love. “We love Him, because He first loves us” (I John 4:19). He loved us when we were yet ungodly, sinners, and enemies of the cross (Rom 5). Let today be the first of many days, “being imitators of God, as beloved children, walking in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph 5:1-2).

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY