The Greatest Lover of All Time!

And he doesn't want chocolates or flowers...

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NLT)

Remember secondary school valentine's day celebrations? For some of us, it was a day to exchange gifts with the person whose name we randomly selected from a ballot of names written on small pieces of paper. For others, it was an opportunity to make our intentions known with cheap chocolates and fake flowers that would make Patience Ozokwor laugh and say, “Oh! It's even plastic!”

We wore white and red clothes that we thought looked cool and learned about Saint Valentine and what all the fuss was about.

But no one ever talked about the greatest lover of all time.

The story goes that this Man fell so hard in love with someone that he decided to take the fall for the offences they'd committed. When he was put on trial, he pleaded “guilty” to crimes he didn't commit, while the real criminal walked away scot-free.

Even when he was beaten and nearly torn apart by the authorities, he didn't go back on his word. He let them torture Him until he finally gave up the ghost. But the intriguing part of the story is that he chose to die for this person even before they loved him back.

But that's not where the story ends, thankfully. He didn't rot in the grave, or it would have been a tragedy rather than a romance. This man rose again on the third day. Alive.

And the person he died for?

It was YOU.

The penalty for sin was death, and you broke the law over…and over…and over. There was no going back, and the verdict was clear. You were sentenced to death eternal. Until Jesus showed up and decided to take the fall so that you could inherit his righteousness. A bloody exchange that resulted in life instead of death.

That's why today should be all about the Greatest Lover of All Time: the Man named Jesus.

But he doesn't want chocolates or flowers or fancy gifts. What he demands is so much more. He wants you.

“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Surrender. Holiness. That is true worship. Will you spend your day satisfying your fleshly desires? Or will you do something to make your Lover smile?

Valentine's Day shouldn't be a time to fornicate or give in to pressure. Man or woman, you are God's bride, so keep yourself holy and pure in honour of Him.

Besides sacrificing yourself, what else does God demand? He wants you to be His representative and tell others that He's in love with them too. Whether they're sinners or not, He died for all. He wants them to know that He's also interested in beginning a relationship.

Jesus has done everything for you. So what will you do for your Lover today?

Courtesy:

RCF UNILAG.