Do you know you’re loved?

The radio is blaring songs of romance.
The supermarkets pushing their displays of chocolates and roses.
Restaurants are advertising their last few tables for that intimate meal.
Facebook bears comments of unexpected cards gained … or recent partners lost.

There’s something about February 14th that gets the world buzzing with a simple question: Do you feel loved?

For some the answer is a heart-warming “yes”: a new relationship is blossoming or a decades-old one still going strong.

For others, there is a sense of emptiness: no flowers, no cards, no chocolates, no ring on the finger… no real hope that there ever will be. Or maybe regrets: harsh words exchanged, a sense of distance and damage in a relationship that is fighting for its life.

But whatever our relationship status right now, however we are feeling about Valentine’s Day – sad, ecstatic or we simply don’t care – God has an important question for us all:

Do you know you’re loved? Do you know you are loved beyond measure by the King of the Universe?

If we are following Jesus, these things are true:

• In love, he predestined us to join his family (Ephesians 1:5)
• In love, he came searching for us when we had wandered off and followed other gods (Hosea 3)
• In love, he left the glories of heaven and came to earth (John 3:16)
• In love, he died an agonizing death to bring us into a relationship with our heavenly Father (1 Peter 3:18)
• In love, he defeated death and flung open the way to eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
• In love, he adopted us to be his precious children (1 John 3:1)
• In love, he sealed us with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
• In love, he provides for us every day (Luke 12:24)
• In love, he brings good out of everything we face (Romans 8:28-29)
• In love, he transforms our lives (Galatians 2:20)
• In love, he never leaves us (Romans 8:38)
• In love, he gives us a sure and certain hope for the future (Revelation 21:1-4)

Wonderful facts. Awesome truths. Eternal love that enables us, whatever kind of day we’re having, to join with the Psalmist in saying: I will sing of the LORD’s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations (Psalm 89:1)