This sermon was preached at a Valentine's Banquet
The Great Day of Love!
Humor: Be honest, is there anyone here that doesn’t have a date for Valentine’s Day? February 14th
Marriage Counseling
A husband and wife came for counseling after 40 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 40 years they had been married. She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured throughout their marriage.
Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up,
walked around the desk and, after asking the wife to stand, embraced and kissed her passionately. The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze. The therapist turned to the husband and said, “This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?" The husband thought for a moment and replied.
"Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish."
A Box of Chocolates
Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the woman if she would like a ride.
“Do need ride.” With a nod of thanks, the woman got into the car.
Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail until she noticed a white bag on the seat next to Sally.
"What in bag?" asked the old woman.
Sally looked down at the white bag and said, "It's a box of chocolates.
I got it for my husband."
The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two, then speaking; with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said: “Good trade."
Happy February!
INTRODUCTION:
February is considered by many as the most romantic month of the year.
When we think of February, probably the most significant thing that happens in the month is “Valentine’s Day,” or as some have called it “The Great Day of Love.”
Valentine’s Day is considered by many to be the most Romantic Day of the year.
Origin of Valentine’s Day: Wikipedia tells us that Valentine’s Day was originally called St. Valentine's Day. It began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus.
What about the modern-day practice of sending flowers, candy, gifts, and cards to our sweetheart?
Wikipedia also adds this: The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").
So down through the years, we have seen Valentine’s Day become that great day of love. The retailers make us feel guilty by suggesting that if we loved our sweetheart, we would buy her/him candy, cards, jewelry, etc. You know the drill.
In an article about Valentine’s Day spending, “IBISWorld breaks Valentine’s Day spending out by concluding that 47.4% accounts for dining out, 13.9% candy, 11.6% romantic getaways, 8.5% flowers, 7.8% jewelry, 6.3% clothing and lingerie, and 4.4% greeting cards. Frank Cirillo, a senior communications specialist at American Greetings, says, "Valentine’s Day is the second-most popular holiday for sending cards, falling behind only Christmas.”
Enough of that aspect of the day. I would like to suggest that they all have it wrong!
Jesus speaks about His love and Our love:
Joh 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Joh 15:8-14 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (9) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
The greatest day of love in the history of the world is found in the most widely quoted Bible verse we know as John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
On the day that Christ died to redeem mankind from sin was the single greatest act of love ever demonstrated.
It is sad to think that someone purchases or makes a gift for someone, a gift which would represent their love for that individual, and that person rejects it.
Then, we think of the Heavenly Father, how He has done everything to let the world know he loves them. He didn’t send a card or a box of candy… He sent His Only Son, Jesus, to come to the earth and offer his life as an atonement for our sins.
In closing let me suggest a few things for you to consider:
1. First, if you have not received the gift of God’s love, and eternal life through Jesus Christ, then why not do so today? If you need to get in touch with me or a pastor or good Godly friend to help you understand this message of love more fully, then please do so today. God has offered you His love by providing salvation freely through faith in what His Son did by dying for you.
2. Secondly, if you have accepted His love and you are a Believer, then share God’s love with others. Maybe you can find a Valentine's Card that offers a place for you to write a note… if so, tell them of the “Greatest Day of Love!”
3. Finally, live out the love in your life! “How?” you might ask. By striving every day to keep and live the greatest commandment and the second great commandment. We find them in Matthew 22:36-40 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
CONCLUSION:
Simplified, Love God first, and love your neighbor as yourself!
Jesus said upon these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. That means that if we practice these two, then the others are never needed.
I hope you have a great February. According to the famous groundhog Punxsutawney, who did not see his shadow, we will have Spring-like weather just around the corner.
INVITATION:
If you celebrate Valentine’s Day, may you select the perfect expression of your love to give to your sweetheart?
If you have not received God’s gift of love, and eternal life through the salvation in Christ, I encourage you to do so before the opportunity is gone.
If you have received the gift of God’s love, then share it with others.
Come and See
~
When was the day you received the invitation?
Come and see. Come and see.
When was the day you heard the Master’s voice?
When was the day you made Christ your choice?
When was the day you allowed the Savior in?
When was the day you were cleansed from sin?
That was the day He stopped your falling.
That was the day you heard Him calling,
Come and see. Come and see.
The world’s filled with those who are seeking.
The world needs someone who is pleading,
Come and see. Come and see.
Today will you go without hesitation?
Today will you give out the invitation,
Come and see. Come, and see?
~
© March 2019 Loyd C Taylor, SR
Disclaimer: I am sharing as one beggar to another; many have blessed me with their sermons and I hope this will be a blessing to you. This sermon is an accumulation from several sources for which and to whom I am grateful, so I claim no originality to all the sermon, only as I have tried to tailor it to develop the sermon to fit my style and audience. I have sought to acknowledge credit to whom credit is due. I hope it will bless you.
