Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13

            Nicole Servel, aged 61, was on the Costa Concordia luxury liner that ran aground a few weeks ago.  Her children gave her the trip as a gift for her 60th birthday.  Nicole survived the disaster, but her husband gave his life to save hers.  As the ship started to sink and everyone had to jump overboard, Nicole panicked because she can't swim.  So her husband Francis gave her his lifejacket and then they both jumped.  According to Nicole, Francis' last words were, “Don't worry!  I’ll be all right.”  But the water was only eight degrees and she never saw him again.  Nicole said, “I owe my life to my husband.”

            Later this month we will set aside a day to celebrate love – St. Valentine’s Day.  Some of us will celebrate a love we’ve enjoyed in our past.  Some will celebrate a love we are presently enjoying.  Some will celebrate a love we hope to enjoy in the days ahead.  That being said, no matter what our station in life or level of romance we all can enjoy a love relationship on February 14^th and every day.

            As I read the above account of unselfish love, I was struck by the similarities between this husband’s love for his bride and our Savior’s love for her bride.  We face a myriad of crises and face the specter of death frequently, which enables the grip of fear to strangle out the hope of our future happiness and joy.  We face the truth that we are unable in our own strength to secure our deliverance from the dangers surrounding us.  It is then that we accept the invitation of the lover of our soul to be equipped and embraced by Him.  We then plunge into the unknown with the outcome resulting in our life and His death.  Greater love has no one than this.

            There is a wonderful blessing in knowing that Jesus desires and delights in loving us with an unconditional love:  unconditional in its offering and unconditional in its demonstration.  Each and every human being is offered this relationship – despite their past, present or future – and this relationship will express real love – withholding nothing to prove its depth.  Few of us can find and enjoy this love in human terms but, praise be to the Lord, we can all find and enjoy this love in God the son, Jesus Christ.

            As you purchase cards candies, roses or diamonds to a present love or spend times in reflection of a former love or contemplate the joys of a future love, remember the one love that will never fade – the love of Christ for His chosen.  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)”

Blessings and Happy Valentine’s Day,

Pastor Mike

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