The Greatest Valentine

I can already see some of you rolling your eyes, thinking that I'm just going to do the cheesy, "Jesus is my Valentine, hehehe!"  Well.  I don't know if you're right or not, I just know that my God is love, and that I am excited about him.
Some of you may know, but I'm sure that most of you don't, I was baptized for the first time on Valentine's Day 4 years ago.  Despite being in church for 18 years (my whole life), I had never been baptized, nor had I ever really heard or understood that you are supposed to be baptized after you're saved.
Being that I was in church for my entire life, I honestly can't tell you exactly when I actually became a Christian myself.  I decided to say the prayer, by myself, on my toy chest, when I was 3 or 4, because I knew that that was what you were supposed to do.  I didn't really hit what most would call the age of accountability until I was around 9.
It doesn't make sense that I would grow up attending church, yet never be baptized or even see a reason, especially considering verses such as this one:

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." — Matthew 28:19 NLT

That is...well, that appears to be an order from Jesus himself.  And I feel that it is pretty important that we obey the instructions given to us from the guy who gave up his life for us.
However, the church I grew up in...baptism is not a thing.  You will never see a baptismal in a Bible Holiness church.  Nor will you ever take communion in a Bible Holiness church (that's another can of worms for another post).  Those are things that have been disregarded as good, but optional...or even things that Jesus didn't intend for us, the people living today, to follow.  I disagree.
I don't think that baptism is what gives us our salvation.  This verse seems to indicate that baptism is not what condemns us or saves us:

"Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned." — Mark 16:16 NLT

From what I understand, it's the lack of belief that leads to condemnation...but yet, if baptism wasn't important, why would it be listed in there with the instruction to believe and be saved?  So...not what saves us, but still important.  It is obedience, which God prefers to anything else we could offer.

"Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." — I Samuel 15:22b NLT

We are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, and so that we will receive the Holy Spirit!  These are good reasons to be baptized!

"Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." — Acts 2:38 NLT

When we are baptized, it's us dying and being raised up to have a new life!

"For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives." — Romans 6:4 NLT

Why would we not want to be baptized?

"What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’" — Acts 22:16 NLT

 February 14, 2016 was one of the best Valentine's Days I've ever had...and I have actually done cheesy romantic stuff for Valentine's Day, too.  But lemme just tell you...the person that I gave myself to on February 14, 2016 is never going to leave me or stop loving me.

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 8:38-39 NLT

Wanna know what my ex did?  Well.  Considering I said my ex, and not my boyfriend, fiancé, or husband, I think it's pretty clear.  He stopped loving me.  He hurt me.  He mistreated me, and made me feel worthless.
God's love has comforted me more times than I can even count.  Knowing that he loves me, even when I'm going through a rough patch has kept me going more than once.  He is truly the best valentine I have ever had, or could ever have.  My God is love.

"God is love." — I John 4:8b NLT 

So, if you're looking for a valentine this year, or any year, I don't know when you're reading this post, God is a pretty great one.  He's never let me down, even though, honestly, most if not all of the humans in my life have let me down at least once or twice...some more often than that.
Happy Valentine's Day guys ♥