When I was in middle school, one of the school clubs sold red carnations as a Valentine’s Day fundraiser. For an entire week, a person could buy a carnation for someone else which would then be hand delivered during lunch on the big day. The flower could be sent with the giver’s name or they could remain anonymous. (This was very popular! I mean, c’mon, it was middle school!)  So on Valentine’s Day, one would sit at the lunch table trying to act casual, trying to look like you didn’t care…while dying inside… hoping upon hope that you would receive a carnation. I remember this as incredibly stressful! As I watched other people receive their carnation, I began to wonder if I would receive one. I would sit and wait, watching and wondering if the prized flower(s) would make their way to me. The thought of not getting one was too humiliating to imagine! I remember the relief, when a person finally came over and delivered the carnations to me. I had been redeemed from the purgatory of the forgotten! Someone thought of me! After all, don’t we all want to be somebody’s valentine? We all long to be chosen. What we often forget is that the words “Be Mine” have been whispered to us since the beginning of time.

Many people view the God of the Old Testament as harsh and unforgiving. Unfortunately, most of those same people have not taken the time to read all of His love letter. From the beginning, God pursued His people. He loves them and wants to be in relationship with them. He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. He called Abraham and the other Patriarchs into a special relationship. He called the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

In Exodus 6:7 in the middle of this deliverance, God said, “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God.”  

Even though the nation of Israel was quickly led astray to other gods, God never gave up on them. One of the themes of the Old Testament is how God constantly pursues this unfaithful people. Israel is often referred to as an adulteress lover (or worse), but God woos and pursues them even though the people continually shun him. God never gives up. 

Even though many of the incidents in the Old Testament are hard to read, the disastrous things happen so that people’s attention is turned back to God. God is clear about His desire if you read carefully. I remember studying Isaiah a couple of years ago. In this book, woven throughout the judgments that fell on the people for their idolatry and rejection of God, was God’s call to them. Isaiah 44:22 says, “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.”  Or this verse in Zechariah 1:2 “Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you.” God says it over and over: Be Mine.

And then of course there is the ultimate valentine! Not a red construction paper heart, but the blood of Jesus to save us from our sins and to reconcile us to God. 

God’s love for us is not earned by us. He loves us because it is His character. He loves because He loves. 

I challenge you to read the following verses in a savoring kind of way, not skimming quickly as something you’ve read a hundred times before and not rushing past them to get on to the next thing. Read them as if a love letter from your beloved.

 We can experience the love of God in many ways: 

Father’s Love:

1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”

Sacrificial Love:

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Romans 5:8 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Pursuing Love: 

Matthew 18:12-14 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” 

And one of my favorites: 

Reassuring Love:

Zephaniah 3:17 

The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

This Valentine’s Day may you embrace the love that is yours for the taking. May you know that you are chosen, you are wanted, and that you are loved. God says to you his beautiful daughter, Be Mine.

Check out this song by Lauren Daigle about how God views us.

ABOUT OUR BLOGGER

Bonnie Kotler and her husband Mitch have two daughters, three sons, seven grandchildren and three grand-puppies. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years before re-entering the workforce after receiving her M.S. in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University. She is a licensed professional counselor at The Peacemaker Center and her own private practice, True North Counseling. Bonnie has been on the Willowdale women’s ministry teaching team since 2012. Bible studies have played a key role in her walk as a believer, and in turn, she loves to help other women find their peace with God and grow in their faith. She enjoys writing Bible study materials, reading fiction, spending time with family and doing anything in the sunshine. Bonnie loves to laugh and considers laughter as the best medicine.  Psalm 126:2