With Valentine’s Day being this week, couples across the globe will go above and beyond to express their love for one another. From poems to candy, flowers to love songs, affection is conveyed in many ways.

As I think of Valentine’s Day and the love of our Savior, I’m reminded of the lyrics of the song, “Written in Red,” by Janet Paschal:

In letters of crimson, God wrote His love
On the hillside so long, long ago
For you and for me Jesus died
And love’s greatest story was told

“I love you, I love you”
That’s what Calvary said
I love you, I love you
“I love you” written in red

Down through the ages, God wrote His love
With the same hands that suffered and bled
Giving all that He had to give
A message so easily read

God is the author of love. He demonstrates His love for His cherished creation in countless ways. His plan of redemption through His blood is woven throughout His love story of scripture. His Word is where the message of His love is written in words. 

One of the greatest ways that God showed His love is by giving up His only Son as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The cross is one of the most profound true-life pictures of His love. We see numerous references to love in scripture, including Christ’s love for us and the love we should have for one another.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God,
and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8

~ Jesus said that the greatest command is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” The second greatest command is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-40).
~ Love binds everything together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14).
~ The greatest expression of love is when someone lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
~ Jesus said that our love for Him will be shown in our obedience to Him (John 14:15).
~ If we keep His commands, we will remain in His love (John 15:9-10).
~ God is rich in mercy. In His love, He made us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5)

God’s love is immeasurable and incomparable to that of any human. Christ loves with an affection that does not wane. While people will no doubt fail one another, the love of Jesus is constant. Yet, we have a command from God to show the love of Jesus to others. May we always live in light of Jesus’ sacrifice that was “written in red.”

Love in Christ,
Adam