What’s Written on Your Heart?

Happy Valentine’s Day, Kids!

Today’s reading reminded me of how my friends and I celebrated Valentine’s Day back in elementary school. I remember making mail boxes (complete with Valentine’s Day decor) and signing, sealing, & delivering a handful of Valentine’s Day cards (in a manner that would make any Postmaster proud). Do you remember the little candy hearts, each with an affectionate message? I sure do, and I can remember how good it made me feel to give and receive those confections of affection.

So, what message is written on OUR hearts?

I believe Paul answers this question by the way he responded to the Christians in Corinth. Gradually, they surmised that his qualifications for delivering the gospel message were inadequate, thereby implying that letters of commendation were warranted. Paul responded, “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

The writer, presumably Paul, used similar language in Hebrews 10:15-17:
And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them,” He then says, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

When we become a Christian, Christ writes with the Holy Spirit the laws of God in a letter on our hearts. Do you remember the question a lawyer of the Pharisees asked Jesus? “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40

In his gospel, John (“the disciple whom Jesus loved”) quoted Him, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:12-14

So, there you have it, God has written on our hearts His command to love.

I guess what I like most about Valentine’s Day is that it’s a day to show appreciation for friendships and love for relationships. And, I can think of no better way to do this than to let our friends and loved ones read the letter of Christ that is written on our hearts.

May our Letters of Christ be His Valentine’s Day Cards to the world that say, “I Love You, Be Mine!”

And, let’s not forget to show Him how much we love Him and appreciate His friendship.

I love you all!
Dad

Here are some of my favorite songs about friendship. Enjoy!

Check it out, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” by Jennifer Willis McDowell:

Check it out, “Friends,” by Michael W. Smith (performed at the funeral of George H.W. Bush):

Check it out, “Friends,” by Michael W. Smith & Amy Grant (performed at the Dove Awards):

We certainly do have a friend in Jesus. Check it out, “Jesus Is All the World to Me,” by the Samoan Gospel Heralds: