Branch On The Vine

By: Alli Matthews

Happy Valentine’s Day friends!

I’m sorry for posting a day late, but I thought this message was perfect for this holiday.

Valentine’s Day often brings up thoughts about love. Whether you are single, dating, engaged, or married, you might be wanting or wishing to be treated extra special today by that special someone whether they are in your life or not.

But let me be real with you: God’s love is far greater than anyone else’s. He created you and has a great plan for your life. He created you with purpose. He created you to love Him and to be a reflection of Him.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but people seem to struggle with loving well. Romans 3:23 says, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That means all humans have missed the mark. We have all at some point in our lives chosen to sin instead of loving God.

But God. He truly loves us – even while we were still sinners. His love is far greater than ours. His word describes true love like this:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

God’s love never fails. That’s why He came up with a beautiful plan to redeem our broken relationship with Him. He came up with a plan to defeat sin, defeat Satan, and make a way for us to have a restored relationship with Him, more intimate than any other.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” He gave us Jesus.

Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, came to earth to live a life without sin to die an innocent death as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He says to his disciples in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Little did his disciple know, Jesus was about to lay down his life for them and for all of humanity.

Then he rose from the dead three days later. He overcame the power of death and appeared to hundreds of people bringing a new hope to his followers. He then ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God and continue to intercede for us.

God came down to us to bridge the gap between our sinful selves and His holiness. He gave us eternal life which means knowing God, (John 17:3).

He gives us the choice to accept the free gift of eternal life or to deny it. We accept it by surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ, allowing Him to be our Lord and Savior.

John 1:12-13 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

If we give our lives to Jesus, we will receive His Spirit also known as the Holy Spirit. Christ will live in us and through us. All we have to do is believe He is who He says He is and be open to His teaching, learning to obey Him.

God already loves you. His love is the greatest gift we could ever be given.

He didn’t have to give us this gift. We don’t deserve it. But He is a God of grace – undeserved favor – and mercy – undeserved forgiveness.

He also wrote you a love letter. It’s called the Bible. He wrote it so that you could know Him better.

This is the greatest love story of all time because God loves us despite our rebellion and defiance. He doesn’t need us, but He wants us.

I hope this little post encourages you on this Valentine’s Day and has reminded you of how loved you already are by the God of the universe.