‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.’  John 3:16

‘For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.’  1 Corinthians 1:18

We come to that month in the year where cards are bought, gifts given and meals enjoyed as people celebrate their love for one another. February 14^th is Valentine’s Day (just a reminder for all the husbands and boyfriends out there) and has become big business and another opportunity for our consumerist society to cash in on a commodity that we can’t put a price on, love. Millions are spent on that one day in a multitude of different ways that people want to use to show the one they love just how much they care for them. High prices are paid for gifts, sacrifices made to spent time with those we love and great (or foolish) acts undertaken all as displays of love but as we look at the scriptures we see in history acts by our great God that display His love for his people. He sent his only begotten Son into this world to live a perfect life amongst us, to die a horrific death on a cross, to rise again on the third day and then ascend into heaven from where he rules and reigns at the Father’s right hand. That giving of His son is the greatest gift of love the world has ever seen and cost more than we can ever comprehend. It is what shows us the depth of love that the Heavenly Father lavishes on us His children. It is a love open and available to those that trust and follow the Lord Jesus Christ, it is a love that means eternal life in the glorious presence of the creator and sustainer of this universe. The world may see the cross as foolishness (the scriptures tell us that) but the gospel turns the world’s thinking on its head. For every believer it is far from foolishness but the symbol of love, forgiveness, a relationship with the living God and a fulfilled life. It is a message that we can’t keep to ourselves. So as you begin to see all the cards and the gifts and love hearts fill the shelves, think for a moment on something that you won’t find there, the cross and all that it means. As we explore how to become a more missional focussed church in the coming year we seek God’s leading in how to best share this wonderful message with our community so that they too would know this love.

May the Lord bless you in His service.

Gordon