Receiving and giving the best valentine

What do I give him or her for Valentine's Day? The gift that keeps on giving is love. It's the perfect and ultimate gift for anyone and everyone.

At this time of the year, we think of getting a gift somehow and somewhere. But, the giving of this gift begins with receiving it first. The movie "Pay It Forward" gives us a glimpse of how it works. The idea is that one gives the gift with the hope that the receiver will pass it on to someone who will pass it on.

John 3:16 says, "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." 

Wrapped up in the word "gave" is a powerful truth. It means to furnish, to give forth from one's self. The original Greek writing is in the aorist tense, meaning it has no starting point or ending point. The love of God the Father was a furnishing love, enabling a giving love. It wasn't a neatly packaged, wrapped with wrapping paper, tied with a bow, gift. It came as a person to love us so much that He was willing to die for us.

That's quite a valentine and we should be amazed. The Apostle John gave us the clue where to begin to pay it forward when he wrote, "Behold, how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are." (1 John 3:1). We start by receiving the gift and are enabled to pass it on.

We have to be sure and behold (see, get it, get the point) how great is God's love. May I suggest spending time thinking about a perfect Father who loves us in a perfect way, with all our imperfect flaws? He's already forgiven you for every mistake before you were born. And, now we should do the same for others.

When you've soaked in and stored up a big dose of this love, think about someone you despise or still carry a bitterness about. God has done the same for them as He's done for each of us. Now we've received the greatest valentine and are ready to pass one on and pay it forward.

After writing the words above, John added, "We love each other as a result of His loving us first." (1 John 4:19)

The love of God is beyond our comprehension. Through the prophet Isaiah he said, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)

If this amazing God was willing to give up His son, shouldn't we try to at least attempt to reach an equivalent level of love-giving?

His son Jesus passed along the challenge, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:43-45)

Can we give it a try? If you need help, ask and pray. Happy Valentine's Day.

The Rev. Bill Baltz of Christ Presbyterian Church is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association.