During the month of February, minds and hearts turn to notions of romantic love. For married couples, Valentine's Day expressions of affection reinforce commitment vows made years earlier. Tokens of admiration may be a fancy card, a box of chocolates, a quiet dinner for two or an especially memorable gift.

Whatever the medium of expression, the givers understand that the memento has no value except it represents a gift of their very selves. Love expressions must be sacrificial, irreplaceable and uniquely suited to the receiver.

Seventh-day Adventists and other Christians rejoice when they reflect on the inestimable Love Gift given by the Holy Trinity. Perhaps no Bible verse is more familiar than "For God, the Father, so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV). Embedded in this passage is a revelation of God's character and His most sacrificial gift. Long before Adam and Eve were formed and made "living souls," the Godhead willingly set in motion the plan to redeem humankind from the consequences of sin. The Lord Jesus Christ's willing decision to come to Earth to live among and die for the human family represents the Trinity's highest expression of universal and unconditional love.

The Godhead could not accept the angels' offer to redeem humanity because a created being's sacrifice is a lesser gift. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can be the perfect Love Gift because "in the beginning He was the Word that already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1 NLT). Logic demands that the Holy Trinity give the Love Gift far beyond what humanity can imagine or pray for.

The proof that Jesus is the prefect Love Gift was confirmed often as He reflected perfectly "God is love" (1 John 4:8 NIV). One night Nicodemus, in secret, learned that one must be born again of the Spirit from above (John 3). To her great and joyous surprise, the Samaritan woman, who challenged His prerogative to ask her for a drink of water, discovered the Living Water (John 4). The desperately discouraged woman who "had been subject to bleeding for twelve years" received instant healing by secretly touching the hem of His cloak (Matthew 9 NIV).

Moreover, Jesus joyfully demonstrated that He is the perfect Love Gift by wholesale healing and deliverance. The Gospel of Mark records an instance when Jesus healed an entire town of various diseases and drove out many demons (Mark 1:33–34 NIV). Millions of Seventh-day Adventists share in the joys of Jesus through our worldwide obedience to Jesus' command, "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:7–8 NIV).

As we express our love for humankind in word and deed, we joyfully bear witness that we love Jesus because "Jesus is love."

Cynthia and J.W. Warren co-founded Spring Hope Ministries to celebrate and promote the joys and benefits of the Adventist lifestyle. They have three adult children and reside in Berrien Springs, Michigan.