by Desiree Bustamante

Christ’s unending love and forgiveness is the ultimate gift to celebrate.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:18-19 New Revised Standard Version 

Today is both Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day. It may seem a little strange to observe the somber day when Lent begins along with a martyred saint’s life turned into a romantic celebration. Actually, it’s the perfect combination of reflecting on our need for a savior to rescue us from sin, and the perfect love that was demonstrated for us by Christ’s death on the cross.

Often celebrating Valentine’s Day comes with romantic expectations that may not always be fulfilled as we hoped. But God is our perfect love, and we can expect that He will love us, nurture us, and provide for all our needs throughout our entire lives, not just on a single holiday. He loved us so much that he prepared a way for us to be with him forever through the sacrifice of His only Son. And because He loved us first, we know this love is unconditional. As we are filled with Christ’s love, it encourages us to love others. We couldn’t have a more awesome gift or a more excellent day to celebrate this perfect love for us.

How ever you observe Saint Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday, take a moment to reflect on God’s perfect love that He shows you through His forgiveness and abiding presence in your heart.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado