Valentine's Day thoughts

Valentine's Day.
What images come to mind?
Red hearts? Candy? Flowers?

How about nails?

Let me explain..... in this week of respite, of peacefulness, the Hebrew word "shalom" came to mind. It is commonly translated "peace." It was used as both a greeting and as a farewell!

It's meanings are far richer than just peace....it means more than just a lack of conflict and strife. It means completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.  Did you know that in some translations, the fifty-fourth chapter of Isaiah is given its own title? It's called the Eternal Covenant of Peace by some commentators.
One verse really struck me, and I wanted to share it with you on this day that we celebrate all things loving and romantic. (Grin)

Though the mountains be shaken    and the hills be removed,yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”    says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

True peace and the ultimate example of love both come from the same source: Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,.....But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:1, 8-10)

In God, we have peace. We are made complete. We are sound. The old nature is gone, and the new nature is within us.
We don't boast about the candy. We don't cherish the cards above all else in life.
It's the nails on the cross that we think about....the "valentine" God gave us is our salvation, our hope of glory, our peace in Him.

Shalom!