The Best Valentine

Dr. Rikki Permenter

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

I write to you today from an elementary school classroom. It is February 13 and the energy is electric. Tomorrow is the big day. February 14. Valentines Day. Valentines Day is a big deal when you’re eight. The stakes are high. You’ve got to make your very own mail box and you’ve got to personalize a valentine for each person in your class. It doesn’t matter who you are - the rules are clear - everyone gets a valentine from everyone else. At the end of the day, each kid will have a big box stuffed full of valentine notes, candies, and treats but it isn’t theirs until they take it.

These valentine treats make me think of the greatest valentine. The valentine we get from God. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and has gifted each of us a box stuffed full of forgiveness. That forgiveness has our name on, he wrote it there specifically, handpicking it with us in mind. But, remember, the forgiveness isn’t ours until we take it.

Ask any elementary student if they want to leave their newly acquired box of goodies at school - heck no! It is theirs and they want it. They don’t just want to talk about it or know they have it sitting in the class - they want to take each valentine into their little hands and eat each treat.

This valentines season I hope you took time to truly take hold of the forgiveness that God has offered you in the form of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. It is yours - but you have to take it! Having your name on it isn’t enough.

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.