Welcome to iwantthemtoremember.com! This is the third day of a week of Valentine’s Devotions for Families using Biblical passages on love.

If your family is at all like mine, you need Biblical reminders of how to love one another all year long, but the Valentine season is a great time to emphasize God’s teachings on love. Spend a week in February (or anytime really) encouraging your family to love with Valentine’s devotions. I suggest you start the Sunday before Valentine’s and celebrate love all week, but you can use them however is best for your family. Links for each day will be added at the end of this post as they are complete. I pray these Valentine’s Devotions bless your family in Christ. Start from Day One here.

Opening Activity

We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

As a family, make a list of ways we know God loves us. You can do this out loud or make a poster to display as a reminder to your family all month. Write “How God Loves Us” in the middle and surround it with words or pictures of ways He shows His love.

Scripture Study

The most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16. Nicodemus wants to know how to have eternal life. He comes to Jesus at night and hears unexpected words. “You must be born again.” Jesus goes on to explain His ministry in John 3:16. This verse is sometimes called the Gospel in a nutshell because it is a great summary of what God has been doing from the beginning of creation to restore people into a right relationship with Him.

Quote the verse together as a family or read it if you don’t have it memorized.

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

God’s love is the good news we can celebrate in the Valentine’s season and all year long, but the good news isn’t all that exciting unless you know the bad news first, so let’s start there.

The Bad News

Beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, every man, woman, boy, and girl has chosen to sin. That means they intentionally disobey the commands of God. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death.”

What are wages? (wait for answers) Wages are the pay we earn for doing something. We have all earned death because we have all sinned against the perfect, holy God. It doesn’t matter whether the sin is big or little in our eyes. Every sin separates us from the God who created us. This death the Bible talks of is eternal, spiritual death and separation from God in hell.

The Good News

Now the good part! Romans 6:23 doesn’t end with death. Read the whole verse now.

For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

We earn wages for death, but notice what God gives us is a gift! What is a gift? (wait for response) A gift is not something we earn or work to get. A gift is given freely in love, kind of like a Valentine’s gift. Why do your parents or spouse give you a gift on Valentine’s? It’s not because you are so good, but because they love you so much!

We cannot do anything to earn God’s gift of eternal life. Jesus paid the price for our sin when He died on the cross, then He arose from the grave, showing His victory over the wages of sin–DEATH.

Accept the Gift

Like any gift, the gift of salvation from God is not ours until we accept it. You may receive a Valentine’s gift, but until you accept it, you cannot enjoy what was meant to be yours.  One day, the Holy Spirit will let you know in your heart that God is calling you to turn away from your sin and follow Him. When you know He is calling, don’t wait to accept His wonderful gift of salvation!

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Confessing Jesus as Lord is more than just saying the words. What does the word Lord mean? (Wait for answers.) Lord is the person in charge.  When you confess Jesus as Lord, you turn from your way and follow His way. The Bible uses the word repentance to describe when a person turns away from their sins and to Jesus as Lord.

The second part of the verse tells us to believe in our hearts. We must put our complete trust in Jesus death and resurrection as the payment for our sin. It does not mean we will never have doubts, but our doubts must lead us to seek Jesus more instead of pulling us further from Him.

The promise in the last part of the verse says you WILL be saved. It is a confident statement of faith. We do not have to wonder. A person who accepts Jesus as Savior becomes a child of God.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 1 John 3:1

God’s Love is Forever

Read Romans 8:38-39. Take turns naming things that cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ.

When Paul says “nor any other created thing” he covers everything listed and anything else that we could ever name. Once we are His, we are secure in His love. Oh, how He love us!

Family Affirmation and Application

Have each family member read or recite John 3:16 out loud replacing the words world and whosoever with his or her own name. Young children can repeat phrases after a parent or older sibling.

Example: For God so loved Levi, that He sent His only begotten Son, that if Levi believes in Him, Levi shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ask one family member to share his or her testimony. (Before bed, take time to talk and pray with anyone who may feel the Holy Spirit is speaking to him or her about salvation. If you need guidance talk to your local pastor or see one of the following links.)

Know Jesus from the Southern Baptist Convention

Becoming a Christian from Focus on the Family

Gospel Presentation Videos from Lifeway Christian Resources

Worship through Song

If time permits, listen to one of the following songs. Watch it on the television or computer if possible.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank you for Your eternal gift of salvation that we do not deserve. Your love amazes us everyday. Thank you that we can become Your children through Jesus. Please help us and others to be open to listen as the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts. In Jesus name, amen.

More Valentine’s Devotions for Families

Thank you for joining me for Valentine’s Devotions for Families. I am sharing this with my children and youth group because I want them to remember the importance of living a life of love. I hope it helps your loved ones remember as well.