The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association has published statistics for the spending on Valentines Day 2016. The average worldwide spend amounted to $13.29 million with around 180 million cards and 198 million roses sent by people to declare their love for someone.

The Bible has a lot to say about love and perhaps the most well known verse is John chapter 3, verse 16: “For God so loved the world,  that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.

Just as millions of people around the world expressed their love on 14th February by what they gave, God has shown how much He loves the world through giving His Son. Many people in the world do not believe that this verse can be true. They would argue, how can God love the world if He does not intervene to prevent all the tragedies that happen, or to fix all the problems?

The verse declares that God has proven His love for the world by giving His Son. This refers to His death on the cross at Calvary. The Bible further explains that “God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5: 8. Calvary can only be understood if we begin to realise and accept that in the sight of a holy God we are sinners, without hope and facing the judgement of God. That same God has provided His Son as our Saviour. We might say that His holiness has been answered by His love. But the verse is quite emphatic – we must believe in Him, and no other, if we are to have eternal life. No church can save us – it is Christ alone.

It is hard to believe that we have reached 25th January and that a month ago we were all on holiday celebrating Christmas. It used to be said that it is a sign of old age when time passes quickly but many younger people are finding that the days and weeks just fly by. Some people don’t help the problem because they are always looking forward  – planning the weekend, or the next holiday.

We are encouraged by the writer of Psalm 90, who many scholars believe was Moses, to take time to reflect on the shortness of our lives:

^“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” Psalm 90:16

It is from this Psalm that the well known phrase, ‘threescore years and ten’ is taken. Even today, 70 years is seen as a good length of life but the Psalm also tells us that we are living before a God for whom, ‘…a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday…’

It would be wise therefore for all of us to use our time today to reflect on what will happen to us when we leave this world and go into eternity to meet with the God who has even our secret sins before Him.

What will we say to God? What will we do for God? What will God say to us? What will He do with us?

“…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

Those who travel to Glasgow by road will have found the roadworks at St James roundabout challenging over the past few days! The satnav is not much use in these situations and we have all been trying to find alternative routes.

Many people in Bishopton have an interest in knowing the way to God. But it can be very confusing! Every religion seems to claim to offer the right way.

A man called Thomas one day asked, “How can we know the way”?

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The way to God is not through a religion but through a person – the Son of God. He is the way to God, the truth about God and the life from God.

We can afford to lose our way to Glasgow but we can’t make any mistakes about finding God!