This article first appeared on The Christian Broadcasting Network |
I was born on February 13, 1969 — so if you do the math, this is the big 5-0, a birthday most would dread. I’ve chosen to embrace it. As a friend of mine said, wisdom and revelation come with age; so, why wouldn’t we be excited to learn more about God and grow closer to Him every year? I have to agree.
But I’ll be honest, having a birthday so close to Valentine’s hasn’t always been easy because with the birthday celebrated first, then Valentine’s is often an after-thought, like “oh yeah, love ya!”
But not with God.
Aren’t you glad He loved you first? Birthday, Valentine, Christmas, Tuesday, you name the day, and His love is just as strong and real as the day before. C.S. Lewis once said, “The story of God and humanity is the one fairytale that is actually true.” But I’ll add, not without heartache. God’s heart ached for you and me when we were separated from Him. His heart still aches for those yet to believe and receive Him.
And this is why every schmoozy movie about the unpopular guy who woos the pretty girl starts out with rejection — much like us. It’s why I loved a heart-shaped strawberry cake for my birthday but often dreaded waking up on the 14th wondering if anyone remembered me on the day of love.
But not anymore.
God has proven time and time again His love for me (and you). He was the unpopular guy that I rejected in my early life. I’m not saying I think I was the pretty girl but God thought I was. And that’s one of the ways He wooed me — by convincing me His love was genuine and He thought I was beautiful and worth pursuing.
I am now persuaded that neither birthdays nor Valentines nor … “death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate [me or you] from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, my paraphrase).
Man may reject you, but not God.
Even when we read of the rejection Jesus experienced from Judas, we see God’s constant love in action. Movies, poems, and analogies have forever been linked to Judas’ kiss — his action of false love. In Matthew 26:49-50, we read, “And he came up to Jesus at once and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you came to do.’”
And immediately Jesus was arrested.
Do you understand that even this demonstration by Jesus of self-surrender and sacrifice was another way He wooed us? He called Judas His friend even with full knowledge of his betrayal. And this action has been perpetuated in every love story since then — the boy is rejected and humiliated but keeps pursuing the girl of his dreams until he wins her.
God set the first stage. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He remembers your birthday. And every day with God is Valentine’s — His opportunity to woo you again with sweet-nothings and whispers of courtship.
I hope you will allow Him to woo you again and again. Every day of the year, you are His greatest delight.
