Sunday Service Video
February 17th

Ash Wednesday: Hands of Repentance (Mark 18:9-14)
https://youtu.be/GUK9ZqcqEgU

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More Than Mere Roses
 
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
 that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16

 
“What can I give to prove my love?”
 
With Valentine’s Day approaching you may want to consider this question. Maybe you will give a card—perhaps one that plays Shania Twain’s “You’re still the one” or some other song. Maybe you will give flowers—red roses still seem like a good way to say I love you. If you’re a romantic, you might plan something special—maybe a candle-lit dinner without the kids or a surprise get-away.
 
In the Bible we hear about what God gave to prove his love for us. In the book of John it says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
 
God didn’t just pick out a cute card or buy some roses for us. To prove his love, he gave his Son for us. And the greatness of God’s love is seen in what he gave his Son to. When Jesus came to earth, he was given to a world that hated him; he was given to humiliation and torture, and ultimately, to death on a cross. As a parent, to give my child to suffer all of this is unimaginable. It would be nearly impossible to give so much for someone else. Can you relate? Yet God willingly gave his one and only, dearly loved Son for us.
  So why did God do it? Because our sins deserve punishment. In the suffering of God’s Son we see the penalty for our sins. For all the times we fail to love God above everything else and fail to love others as God commands, we deserve punishment. But God chose to punish his Son instead of us.
 
God did this to prove his love for you. He loves you so much that he gave his Son to die your death. He loves you so much that he offers you the gift of faith as you hear his word and are baptized. He loves you so much that he will give eternal life to you and all who believe.
 
This Valentine’s Day please reflect on the One who proved his love by giving more than mere roses; he gave his Son.