A Moment With Pastor Fred

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Yes, I know some roll the eyes. Another “Hallmark holiday” they say. But actually Tuesday’s observation dates back over 1500 years! Two early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. Tradition developed over the centuries around this day being a celebration of love recognized around the world.

I love (no pun intended) how God’s providence plays out. When I began our series last fall in 1 John little did I know I would be speaking on this text today – on the love of God. We took a break over Christmas. I did some miscellaneous messages in January. But it wasn’t until a week ago I made the connection. So it’s appropriate we sing one of our church’s favorite hymns today, “The Love of God.”

Frederick Lehman was a pastor in Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. He helped found the Nazarene Publishing House in 1911. He and his daughter, Claudia Mays wrote the hymn we sing this morning – actually the first two verses and the chorus. The song was inspired by a Jewish poem centuries old. But the last stanza was found itched on a wall of an insane asylum. The lyrics testify indeed God’s love goes “beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell.” These words have journeyed from a Hebrew cantor to two Gentile Christians to testify that the love of God knows no limits. 

1 John 4:8, “God is love.” Amazing!