by Rhonda Jones
It’s Valentines’ week, 2021. Every entryway, as I walk into the grocery store, is lined with heart-shaped cookies in vibrant pink and red colors with white lace trim. And as if that’s not enough, on the way out of the store I'm assaulted with bright red boxes of candy for purchase at the checkout stand. Sometimes I think it’s all a bit of overkill, don’t you?
So, what does Valentine’s Day mean to you? Is it a day once a year to tell those around you that you love them? Or earn kudos with those co-workers that really don’t mean that much to you, but might help you climb the corporate ladder if you make a good impression? I’m not sure a box of cookies or candy will do that. So, I’m taking personal inventory this week and thought you might want to read the thoughts I’m gleaning from God’s Word regarding what pleases Him the most when it comes to the condition of our hearts.
I’m remembering the scene in Matthew 23:25 where Jesus is speaking boldly with the Pharisees: “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” His heart was on fire blowing out Holy Spirit smoke as He spoke those words of truth to them!
In Psalms 51:6 we read, “Surely You desire truth in the inner parts (the heart of man); You teach me wisdom in the inmost place (deep in my heart).”
So how can I achieve a clean and pure heart?
Psalm 51:17 states: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite (humble) heart You will not despise.” Again, I see a picture of Jesus in my head as He is bowing to wash the disciples’ feet the night of His betrayal. He knew what was ahead of Him and still He humbled His heart to serve them. He gave the perfect example to His disciples of how to serve one another with a humble heart. I can see now that any smidgeon of self-righteous thinking on my part is an abomination to God… He hates haughtiness!
So how can I get rid of any darkness in my heart? That’s where the inventory part comes in…letting God’s Spirit sweep my heart for any hidden corners of darkness I may be either knowingly or not knowingly holding on to. I love the truthful cries of desperation from David in the Psalms! Here’s Chapter 51:7: “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean, wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” After all, the purification of our sins is exactly why Jesus died. I’m also reminded of a hymn I used to sing as a child: “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow! No other fount I know! Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
So why are we called to love others? I John 4:9 states: “We love each other because He first loved us.” Simple and pure. And if you can’t love someone, just ask Him for an extra amount of His love…He freely gives!
Why should Jesus be my first love? Revelation 2:4 states, “One complaint: You don’t love Me or others like You did at first!”
And the greatest commandment of all: Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (The Message).
A Valentine’s Day prayer:
“Purify my heart, Oh, Lord. May my heart be humbled to serve as You served, to love as you loved. I offer my heart to You this Valentine’s Day so that You can remain my first love forever and always.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Rhonda Jones Music Director
Please Join us this Sunday, February 14th, as Pastor Tim continues His series from Philippians as we explore Chapter 3. His message for this week is entitled “Love Changes Things.”