A similarity between Valentine’s Day and Communion …

There is nothing so essential to the life of a Christian (or any human being) than Jesus Christ offering His body to be broken, and His blood to be shed, so that we could be saved from sin and its consequence of death.

If it’s that important, so utterly essential, how could we ever forget?

Very easily.

Ask yourself, outside of attending church services, how often do you remember that vital act of selfless love?

We forget something even that central to our being; we simply take advantage of our relationship with Jesus.

We also do that with the person we love second only to God — or, at least, the one we should love second only to God — and that is our spouses.

The whole symbolism — and reality — of a wedding ceremony is to mark a person leaving their parents and being joined together for the rest of their lives; to take second place “for as long as you both shall live.”

But we take advantage of our relationships with our spouses and become so comfortable and casual with them that we forget what place they should hold, and what love should be demonstrated to them every day.

We do the same for other relationships in which there is profound love, such as with family or great friends.

Jesus knew our horrible penchant to forget even the most precious, that which is to be most highly valued, so He instituted the Communion ceremony to remind us (for reference, see 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

But we don’t really have anything like that regarding our marriages other than anniversary celebrations.

And for those other important relationships? No anniversaries, no kind of annual reminders on the calendar.

But there’s is Valentine’s Day.

When it comes to Valentine’s Day there are generally two types of people — those who hate the day, or consider it cheesy, and hit social media early to loudly proclaim that we can show love to our spouses, or significant others, or family, friends, etc., on any day!

That’s true!

But we often don’t.

We easily forget.

The other type of person you see on Valentine’s Day are those who embrace it a chance to specifically, and specially, bring to remembrance what loved ones mean to them, to recall the love they have received from them, the love they have for them, and to use the day to celebrate that love.

In that case, I’m all for Valentine’s Day.

There aren’t enough days in our lives and relationships that we adequately remember love received, love given, and love that remains and deeply enriches life; and love that, with God’s help, will be part of life’s great reward (check out Ecclesiastes 9:9).

So today, I wish you a happy Valentine’s Day, hoping you stir great memories of love, and make time to express the love you have for others.

Scotty