Luke 16:15 "And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." NKJV

Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." NKJV

The Love of God
I thought what I needed was to be loved by man. But to be loved by God is a far greater thing. I presumed I knew what love was – but my idea of love was based on words of praise, material gifts, and those all too fickle feelings. This is not true love. It was all about the love of man and it was iniquitous. True love requires sacrifice. Sacrifice means death. I needed to present myself a living sacrifice; put on the altar my desire for the love of man, and die the death of love, which when complete brings forth true life. For I have been loved with a greater love than any man can give, and if I love others with the same sacrificial love, I will be called His friend and filled with joy! 

Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." NKJV

John 15:11-12 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." NKJV

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." NKJV

Set Free
Before my husband came home from work that day, I thought about how generous he is all the other days of the year with his time, his money, and his affection. When he finally came through the door, instead of my usual valentine depression, I was actually full of joy and greeted him with a smile and a big hug. He was hiding something behind his back – a huge velvet heart full of chocolate, and a bottle of my favorite perfume. What had gotten into him? I had no idea, but I knew what had gotten into me: Truth - and it had set me free.

WORLD'S BEST VALENTINE: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 NKJV

Deborah Wuehler is the Devotional and E-Newsletter editor for The Old Schoolhouse. www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com. She lives in Roseville, CA with her husband Richard and their six gifts from heaven. E-mail Deborah at devotions@TOSMag.com.