The Bottom Line

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

 

When I attended elementary school, I was always excited about our yearly valentine exchange. It was a way to share my feelings with the girl I liked at the time. (I was too shy to do it otherwise.) I also enjoyed receiving valentines from girls that felt the same way toward me. It was a joy to love and be loved — even if it was “puppy love.“

Valentine’s Day is a special occasion when couples focus on one another and express their love with gifts — maybe a heart-shaped box of chocolates, a card, roses, jewelry, or a nice dinner. I realize that there are many who find this date to be difficult because the spouse who once shared this celebration is no longer around, due to death, divorce, or other circumstances. I’m certainly not minimizing this pain, but I want to remind you that God’s love for you is unconditional. God’s love is above and beyond that of human beings.

The Bible tells us that God’s love is so wonderful you can’t comprehend it fully. “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:18,19 NLT).

God’s love is available to anyone who will receive it; but many people are unaware of it. There are numberless ways He shows His love for you every day. You just need to slow down and look for it, and then thank Him. Anytime you experience favor or something good, it’s actually from God. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…“ (James 1:17). He also uses people to show His love to you. In addition, He’s sent you a lifetime’s worth of valentines and love letters in the Holy Bible.

Do you know, understand, and believe you’re special? Excerpts from Psalm 139 proves this truth: “You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion…. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.” God created you just so He could love you and you could love Him. Now that’s something to be happy about! Nothing can separate you from His unconditional love. But you do have the choice to either receive or reject this wonderful gift of love.

When we receive and return His love, we become children of the heavenly King. “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NLT). God will never neglect, reject, or leave you because you’re His special child. On this Valentine’s weekend, receive by faith the unfailing love of the Great I AM.

The Bottom Line: Does God love you because you’re special, or are you special because God loves you? Yes to both.

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

Diamond Community Church

Worship 10:45 a.m.