My heart is heavy for the people of Ukraine. Although the good hearts of safe and free people always abhor the unprovoked aggression of a despot, the current assault especially touches me, as a person of Ukrainian descent. My grandparents came to America from Ukraine as young adults. I know little of Ukrainian culture, but born a Kucharsky, its plight is personal.
A few things around remind me of my Slavic heritage.
There are many Christians in Ukraine who are clinging to the promise of Psalm 145:18: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Doing crafts and activities with children makes me happy. I made these Valentine projects with some kids last week. I wanted to post them for Valentine’s Day and then decided to expand the post with Scriptures on the topic of LOVE.
The Bible speaks often of love, especially of the great love God has for us. Psalm 62 culminates by expressing it quite clearly: “One thing God has spoken, … that you, oh God, are loving.” Old Testament passages frequently say of God that He is “abounding in love” as I read for myself this morning in Nehemiah 9:17 and Psalm 86:5.
A familiar passage in the New Testament defines perfect love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians13:4-8, 13).
By loving us and defining love, God also demonstrated selfless love for us and asks us to follow His example; “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). And Jesus told us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27) and “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
These simple but rich words from the Author of Love provide much for us to ponder on this Valentine’s Day.
