Ugh. Valentine’s Day. Hated it when I was single, don’t like it much better married. I am one of those staunch haters, who can soap box about a Hallmark holiday created to make us feel lesser. Ok, I’m done.
Anyway, regardless of your feelings about the holiday, each year it is thrust upon us in all of it’s red and pink glory. Since I don’t have anything nice to say, I went searching on the internet. I found two interesting posts that I thought I’d share with you. The first was on Reddit posted by someone named JuicyRare (don’t judge me!). So here’s his post.
Happy Valentines Day. Single or not, God loves you.
Valentine’s Day asks us a basic question: Does anyone in this massive universe actually love me? Deep down as human beings we know that we were made for more than ourselves, and we will never be satisfied alone by ourselves. The book of Genesis affirms that it is not good for the human being to be alone (Gen. 2:18).
As a single Christian man, but especially at Valentine’s Day, I ask myself: Who is there that truly loves me just as I am? Not because of what I would be, could be, or should be; but just as I am—with a few warts, and one or two—or maybe even ten or twelve other shortcomings—that come to mind. Who loves me for just the person God created me to be, without qualification?
The world tells single people: You, man or woman, better make something happen! You need to put your best foot forward and put yourself out there. You need to find the special someone who will be there for you, care for you, and love you unconditionally. You need to fix your hair, update your wardrobe, take up a couple of new hobbies, and in general, just get yourself out into public view in the real world to make something happen. And today this process is facilitated even more readily by a bunch of social media and dating websites to assist us in finding that special person more efficiently. So, anyone still single aka “alone” according to society’s standard—has only himself or herself to blame. And failure to take action means you run the risk of going through life all alone.
But the Bible gives us another answer: You are completely valued and treasured just as you are because God who runs this massive universe is, in fact, a personal Being and he loves you wholly and completely. It is not based on how talented you are, or how great your body looks, or your bank account. No, he loves you just as he created you. God not only loves you, but he willingly chose to pay the ultimate price to bring you into that relationship with him just as you are—with your warts, and shortcomings. This truth is not an afterthought or side-effect to running a busy and complicated universe. Your salvation is at the core of God’s very plan within the whole history of the created order.
To all singles out there, be encouraged! You are fully loved this Valentine’s Day by the only one who also fully knows you and receives you just as you are. And that’s a relationship of love that will never leave you nor forsake you—for it is a relationship of love for all eternity.
Don’t you love this? I think it is so well said. And, to finish up, here is the other post I found from the blog Treading Water Til Jesus Comes.
God’s Valentine
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, ‘With man this is impossible; but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26).
Have you ever thought of yourself as God’s Valentine?
God lives in heaven and we live on earth. The two worlds are vastly different. Here on Earth, there are lots of limitations. In heaven there are no limits. God is a barrier buster. For us to think as God does requires us to bring to mind who God is.
God is our creator. Everyone alive has been created by God. Beyond that, God has also redeemed some people He has created. In redemption, people on earth have constant and immediate access to Him.
This is life on a different level, making possible what otherwise would be impossible. The difference between what is humanly possible and what is not possible on earth is having a personal relationship with God.
How do we get a personal relationship with God, and why would we want Him in our lives?
God must be the initiator for us to desire a personal relationship with Him. He has ingenious ways of doing this. At times He puts us in impossible situations where we are confronted with a challenge we can’t solve without outside intervention.
God Wants Us Available
The beauty of God is He has made Himself available to those who seek Him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13).
What attracts God to humans like a magnet is their contrite and humble attitude. “For this is what the high and exalted One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15).
Jacob I Have Loved
One of the mysteries of God is He chose Jacob, an unlikely person to bless. Jacob was a supplanter by name. To supplant by definition is “to take the place of; supersede, especially through force or plotting.”
Esau, Jacob’s twin brother, put it this way. “Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob[a]? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”” (Genesis 27:36).
A few years later, Jacob was married and had thirteen children. By that time, Jacob the conniving deceiver had come to a startling realization. He said to God, “I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.” (Genesis 32:10).
God did the impossible with Jacob, transforming him into a man who grasped God was pouring out His blessings on him, not for anything wonderful Jacob had done. Jacob was learning lessons in humility. Jacob came to understand God is the boss. Jacob was not in charge of his own life; God was.
How about you and I? God is always in the business of turning the unlovely into the lovely. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
Did you ever think of Jacob, or yourself, as God’s valentine? God sees the masterpiece in us, a lump of clay. We did not deserve His attention. Yet we can thank God He is committed to sticking with His program. Our part is to cooperate with Him, submitting ourselves to His authority. Nothing “shall be l or able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
Enjoy being God’s Valentine today!
For God and you,
Deb Bostwick
Singles Blogger