A Love Beyond Measure: Unwrapping the Gift of God’s Sacrificial Love on Valentine’s Day
As another Valentine’s Day comes and goes, it always brings up thoughts of romance, roses, chocolates, and hearts that come alive and begin to beat with renewed expressions of love, affection and endearment. In the midst of all this talk of love, it’s the perfect time to reflect on God’s steadfast love for you and me. This is the love that surpasses all understanding (Ephesians 3:19 NIV), and the source and starting point for all true love.
This Valentine’s Day, let’s journey into the profound depth of this love, shown in the perfect example of the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Let’s explore how we can celebrate Valentine’s Day with a focus on God’s unwavering and eternal love and how we can embody it in our own lives everyday.
The Ultimate Love Story: God’s Unfailing Love
At some point in life, whether we are aware of it or not, we all go off on this journey looking for some form of true love and significance in our lives. We each may search for it at different times and in different ways, such as in relationships, material possessions, or maybe even in the pursuit of worldly pleasures.
Even so, in a world often defined by fleeting emotions and temporary affections, the concept of true and lasting love can sometimes seem elusive – just out of reach – at best. And in the middle of all the noise and chaos of life we continue to search. But, really, that journey will always begin and find its fulfillment with understanding the very nature of God Himself, for the Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, ESV). And it’s this love that surpasses them all – every other love – God’s love is one that is beyond our understanding—it’s steadfast, unwavering, and eternal.
This love is the sacred romance we find in God through a relationship with Jesus Christ. From the beginning of creation, God’s love has been woven into the fabric of every human heart, constantly calling and wooing us into a relationship with Him that transcends – rises far above – the confines of this world. And the beautiful thing about His love is that it’s not bound by time or circumstance; it is limitless, pure, and unconditional.
His love is also not dependent on our worthiness or merit; it is an outpouring of His nature, It’s just who He is. It’s a love that seeks us in our brokenness, just as a shepherd seeks a lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7). It’s a love that calls us by name, drawing us into a transformative relationship with the Creator of the universe. It’s a love that will never give up on us, even if we give up on ourselves! This is exactly what every human heart ultimately yearns for from the very depth of its being.
How beautiful is that!
The Crimson Thread: Jesus’s Sacrifice on the Cross
The Idea of the crimson thread brings us back to the story of Rehab in the Bible. She was a prostitute from Jericho who helped the Israelites when they came into the city to spy out the land. (Joshua 2: 1-21) They wanted to find out about the city before they tried to take it over as part of the conquest of the land that God had promised to give to Israel. In fear of God, Rehab hid the spies from the King of Jericho and helped them to escape by letting them down through a window using a scarlet-colored cord (some translations call it a “crimson cord” or “red rope”). The spies then directed her to tie the scarlet cord in the window, in plain view, as a sign to the Isrealite army that those in the house would be protected from destruction when the they came to take over the city.
Just as Rahab’s action protected her and her family and marked her house for safety when the Israelites came in to attack Jericho, it also became a perfect representation of God’s divine protection and salvation for those who put their faith and trust in Him. Rahab demonstrated her faith when she tied the crimson thread in the window as she was told to do. In a similar fashion, the Hebrews marked their doors with the blood of the sacrificial lamb, prior to the exodus from Egypt, protecting them from the destroyer as he “passed-over” each home marked by the blood (Exodus 12:7, 13, 23). Rahab also showed her faith and obedience to God and the Israelites. She believed in the God of Israel and trusted that He would spare her and her family when Jericho fell.
The story also became representative of God’s forgiveness and redemption. Rahab was a Gentile woman and a former prostitute, but she found forgiveness and redemption from God through her faith and actions. The scarlet cord symbolized God’s mercy and grace to all who turn to Him in faith and obedience.
Love Personified: Jesus, the Perfect Valentine
The real significance in this story, however, is what this crimson thread ultimately represents: it points to the cross of Christ and the bloody sacrifice that Jesus made for us there. (hence, the red cord). Though the cross was meant to be an instrument of suffering and shame, it became the symbol of God’s forgiveness, and redemptive love and sacrifice. Jesus, who was sinless and perfect, took on the weight of our sins through His sacrifice, bridging the massive gap that existed between God and humanity. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Just as Valentine’s Day is associated with the exchange of gifts of love, and while expressions of earthly love are still beautiful and meaningful they just can’t compare to the depth of love we have in Jesus. He alone is the true and perfect example of pure, selfless love. His life, teachings, and sacrifice on the cross testify to the immense love of our Heavenly Father. No gift will ever surpass the gift God has given to humanity in the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus on the cross, bringing us protection and salvation from sin and death, and as a result, the hope of better promises for this present life and the one to come.
It is through our faith and obedience that we receive this incomprehensible gift. In John 3:16, we find the embodiment of this divine love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” His willingness to sacrifice Himself for us, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him, is by far the utmost example of sacrificial of love. As Jesus says in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
So let’s raise our voices, with love and gratitude, to praise the One who loved us even before we knew Him. He loves us unconditionally and promises to always be with us. – Jesus, our perfect Valentine. May His love guide us like a beacon in the dark, lighting our path and guiding us into His perfect will.
And may we, in turn, reflect the beauty of His love to a world in desperate need of hope, compassion, and grace.
Love in Action – Reflecting Christ’s Love on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day often emphasizes romantic love, but as Christians, we’re called to reflect on a deeper, sacrificial kind of love—the love demonstrated through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
As we fill ourselves up with the boundless love of God, let us then turn to our family, friends and neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances and even strangers and extend the same love, grace, and compassion that we have received from our Heavenly Father. Love in action explores how we can honor Christ’s love by extending it to others on Valentine’s Day.
In John 13:34, Jesus gave his disciples a profound commandment when he said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Here, Jesus is setting the stage for a radical kind of love, one that reflects His own sacrificial love for humanity. It’s a love that goes beyond mere words or fleeting emotions; it’s a love that inspires action and genuine care for others.
Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to show love through real actions that make a difference. You could volunteer at a local shelter, where your presence could bring comfort to those who are struggling. Another idea is to write heartfelt letters to encourage others and remind them of how valuable they are in God’s eyes. Spending quality time with loved ones is also important, as it strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories. As Romans 12:10 suggests, let’s be dedicated to loving one another and putting each other’s needs before our own.
Amidst all this let’s not forget the importance of loving and accepting ourselves. Understanding our worth in God’s eyes helps us to love ourselves and others more adequately. Jesus stated the second greatest command in all of Scripture in Mark 12:31 when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalm 139:14) and you are deeply cherished by the Creator. By cultivating a healthy sense of self-love, we become more able to love others genuinely and wholeheartedly.
Conclusion: As Valentine’s Day approaches, let’s remember that true love is more that chocolates and roses. By living out the teachings of love we find in the Bible and following Christ’s example, we can turn this Valentine’s Day into a truly meaningful celebration of God’s endless love for every person.
A Valentine’s Day Prayer: Embraced by God’s Eternal Love
Gracious Heavenly Father,
On this day that celebrates love, we come before You with hearts filled with gratitude for the indescribable gift of Your love. Your love, O Lord, is a love beyond measure, a love that surpasses all understanding. As we reflect on the beauty of human affection, we are reminded of the depth and magnitude of Your perfect and unfailing love.
Thank you, Lord, for the ultimate Valentine’s gift—Jesus Christ, our Savior. In the midst of the red and pink hues of this day, we lift our eyes to the crimson thread of His sacrificial love on the cross. Your Word declares that there is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus, our perfect Friend, laid down His life for us, demonstrating a love that knows no bounds.
Lord Jesus, we are humbled by the weight of our sins that You bore on the cross. Your love, so pure and selfless, has redeemed us, and we stand forgiven and reconciled to You. May the significance of the cross be ever-present in our hearts, a constant reminder of Your enduring love.
As we celebrate love today, we ask for Your grace to love others as You have loved us. Teach us to extend compassion, forgiveness, and grace to those around us. May our lives be a reflection of Your love, shining brightly in a world that desperately needs the light of Your truth.
Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with Your presence. May Your love be the guiding force in our lives, shaping our thoughts, words, and actions. Empower us to love not only those who are easy to love but also those who may be difficult or different. Help us to be vessels of Your love in a world hungering for the warmth of genuine and selfless affection.
We dedicate this Valentine’s Day to You, Lord, acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). Thank you for the gift of love, the gift of Your Son, and the promise of eternal life through Him.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
