How much are you loved?

The ads the last few weeks have prepared us for this day. In their efforts to sell more cards, more chocolate, more flowers, more diamonds and more cruises, they have been teaching a subtle message. This message is so subtle, but it permeates advertising for Valentine's Day.

The message is this, "If you love someone, you'll buy them this product. The more you love them, the bigger thing you'll buy."

The more you spend, the more you love.

I wonder if those advertisers know that they are proclaiming a biblical principle in their messages.

The more you spend, the more you love.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Can you spend anymore than sacrificing your life?

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Can you give anything greater than your only son?

"But God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Is it hardest to give to those who are your enemies?

But that's exactly what God did for you. He loved you so much that He wanted you to spend all of eternity with Him in His presence. He doesn't want you to go anywhere else but where He is. You might even say that God is a jealous lover. He wants you all for Himself.

The problem is that you and God are polar opposites.

You are a sinner. You do bad things. You think bad thoughts. You say mean words.

God is holy. God never does anything wrong. God never thinks any bad thoughts. God never says anything hurtful.

So God wants you to spend eternity with Him, but your sin separates you from Him.

So God in love had to do something. He had to give His Son to you, even though you hated Him.

That's why Jesus died on the cross. Jesus became a man with flesh and blood so that He could die. He demonstrated God's love through that act.

So how much are you loved?

You are loved so much that the holy God sacrificed His Son so that you could spend eternity with Him!

But just like those gifts that might show up today, you have to accept this gift. You have to believe that what God said is true.

Accepting this gift will be much greater than any card, roses, cruises, diamonds - or even chocolate - that you might get today!