BITTERSWEET

Romans 5:1-8
1 Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

A lot of people don't like Valentine's Day. Instead of flowers, poems, and "our song," it brings back haunting memories of being dumped and feeling all wrong. Some people dislike this day so much they've invented an alternative version of the little candy hearts with the cute romantic messages.

Instead of saying "Love ya" and "Heartthrob," BitterSweets(tm) offer sentiments like TIME 2 DUMP U, TRADIN YOU IN, and
RETURN MY CDs. As you might expect, this candy with an attitude is touted on the Web site "despair.com."

In a world where Christians don't seem to be immune from the travail of trying to find the right person, how are we supposed to cope with the unreality of Valentine's Day?

I wish I had a formula--three points and a poem that would wrap it up for everyone so we could all move ahead confidently in our romantic pursuits and relationships. What comes to mind is a statement I heard many years ago: "Happiness in life and marriage is more a matter of becoming the right person than of finding the right person."

If that's true, then every Valentine's Day, with or without a significant other, can be another step along the road of becoming who God wants us to be. Romans 5:1-8 describes a process that begins with suffering and leads to hope. It is repeated over and over during our journey through life. The key element is God's love, which was demonstrated when Jesus died for us on the cross (v.8) and which the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts (v.5).

Whether the experiences of life make me bitter or better depends a lot on my goals for each day. If I'm looking for someone to make me happy, today is an obstacle. If I'm seeking to become who Jesus wants me to be, today is an opportunity to move ahead.

I hope we all find someone to love who loves us in return. In the meantime, becoming the right person is something we can all work on today. --Dave McCasland

DESTINATION POINTS

* What is one important step I could take today toward becoming "the right person"?
* Have I accepted God's love in Jesus and experienced it in my heart?
* How will I celebrate Valentine's Day?

LINKS:
The History Of Valentine's Day
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/valentine/history.html

The Way We Need Love
http://www.christianitytoday.com/teens/newsletter/2003/bym30215.html

bottom line: Loving Jesus keeps us from becoming bitter.

soul journey