Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is so much fun. That is, if you have someone to celebrate with. Am I right? All the cards, candy, balloons and flowers on display at stores will either get you excited in anticipation of the big day or serve as a painful reminder of your loneliness (Can you hear the restaurant hostess - "Lisa, party of one!"). I've been on both sides of that holiday and I can tell you which one is more fun!
The truth is, none of us need feel lonely or without love on Valentine's Day. We have a love available to us that reaches far beyond the grandest bouquet of roses. We are pursued with great passion by a Love that knows no bounds. The book of Hosea portrays the greatest love story of all time.
Hosea was a man of God. God told him to marry a harlot named Gomer. Hosea obeyed God and took Gomer to be his wife. Hosea loved Gomer (despite her unfortunate name). He showered her with kindness and dignity. Gomer had never known such tenderness. Happy ending, right? Not yet. Sadly, old sinful habits die hard. She left her amazing husband and went back to her adulterous ways. Men used her and abused her until she was utterly broken then sold into slavery. All hope was lost, until...
God told Hosea to go and buy her back! What?! This makes no sense. Hosea was too good for her to begin with. Hosea gave her everything and Gomer just threw it in his face. She was getting what she deserved. Why would Hosea want her back after the way she treated him much less pay for her to be free? What kind of love would do this? Incredible!
Listen, this is our love story. Yours and mine. God is Hosea and we are Gomer. We, who are unworthy and filthy with sin, are greatly pursued by a righteous Love. We, who have turned our backs on Christ time and time again, are sought after and bought with a price.
"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods.'" Hosea 3:1. This is the most beautiful love story. This beats any card, flower arrangement or...dare I say it...jewelry!
Yes, this is the love of a lifetime. We are not alone. Despite the intense pain we inflict on God by turning our affections elsewhere, God still loves us. This is not human love. This divine love. He will follow you to the depths of your sin to reclaim you. So, this Valentine's Day, whether you are "party of two" or "party of one", just know that you are prized!
I've got to get off this computer now. I'm going to spend time with my Heavenly Valentine!
Thank you for this post Lisa! It was very good and I shared it with my mom who is missing her earthly Valentine so much. But how great and good is God's unrelenting, divine love!
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