The media are at it again. The hype has been on for several days now as Valentine’s Day draws close. I marvel at the rate of popularity for the celebration of Valentine’s Day around the world. Some of those who celebrate this day do not even know who St. Valentine was or what the day is all about. All they know is that it is a day set apart for lovers. That information, is good enough for them.
I am not writing to criticize the celebration of Valentine’s day, rather I am only using this opportunity to introduce the greatest lover of all times. He is introduced in the Bible, by none other than the one who should know, Jesus Christ our Lord. Quoting the Lord in John 3:16, which is a very popular verse by the way, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life”. This is love in its purest form. It is not carnal or sensual; it is the ultimate expression of love.
God himself expressed his love beautifully to us through His Word in Jer 31:3 “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself”. God’s love never fails, that is why no matter how deep in sin a man may feel he has gone, God’s love will reach down and bring him out.
Pardon me to say that I have never really celebrated Valentine’s Day. I remember telling my wife on one Valentine’s Day that I do not need a special day to show her love, rather I should seek to show her each day how much I love her. Of course, I have read many versions of the history of St. Valentine’s Day but I am not yet convinced which of the versions is true. I personally believe that a Christian is and should be a carrier of love and every day should be an opportunity to ‘infect’ others with God’s love.
Love is so crucial in the life of a Christian that God himself is described as Love. Let’s take a closer look at John 3:16. “God so loved”. He did not just love; He is passionately in love with you and I. He loves us with a love that will never let go. He never falls out of love like we humans do. There was nothing else He could use to show His love towards us but the priceless gift of His Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Jesus, the image of God, while He walked upon the surface of the earth, reflected God’s love. “Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” Acts 10:38. He gave everything without holding back, even His own life.
Therefore, while the world runs wild in their own show of ‘love’, a word which they do not know or can understand, let us be God’s vessels of love showing the world what true love really is. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” John 13:34.
Biblepraise Fellowship, (c) 2002.
Steve Popoola
is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and the webmaster of Biblepraise Fellowship Online at
. British by birth, He currently resides in Lagos , Nigeria with wife Maris and their children; Praise, Stephanie and Precious. He works as an IT professional in a bank. He presently serves as Church Secretary and Head of Music Ministry in his local church. He is the Moderator/Editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached through His email address,
